Woman charged with killing mom in Surrey

Police investigate after a woman was found dead in a Surrey basement suite on Nov. 8, 2012. (CTV)

The daughter of a woman found dead in a Surrey basement suite last week has been charged with second-degree murder, homicide investigators announced Monday.

Panagiota Zerbinos, 43, was found dead inside her daughter’s home in the Fleetwood area of Surrey on Thursday. Her daughter, 28-year-old Gloria Zerbinos, was arrested Saturday and formally charged with murdering her mother on Sunday.

"IHIT is pleased to be announcing the arrest and charge of Gloria Zerbinos only a few days into the investigation. However, we also acknowledge and recognize this tragedy that has occurred with a family losing a wife and mother and her daughter being charged with her murder," said Cpl. Adam MacIntosh.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said the cause of death and motive of the murder are not being released at this time, but there is no indication the death was drug or gang related. Friends and neighbors describe the relationship between Gloria and Panagiota Zerbinos as “rocky and contentious”.

Gloria Zerbinos was arrested inside the Number 5 Orange, a Vancouver strip club. She was taken into custody without incident. According to the club, Zerbinos had danced there before, but she was not dancing the night that she was arrested.

Zerbinos currently remains in custody and will appear in court on Tuesday.

An autopsy on Panagiota Zerbinos is also scheduled for Tuesday.

With a report from CTV British Columbia's Scott Hurst