UC Berkeley Professor Przemyslaw Jeziorski, 43, was tragically shot and killed in Greece on July 4. The beloved marketing professor, known as ‘PJ’ to his students and colleagues, was visiting his children when he was gunned down. His ex-wife, Nadia Michelidaki, and four others have since been arrested in connection with his murder, which authorities suspect was a contract killing.

A Life Cut Short

Przemyslaw Jeziorski, an associate professor of marketing at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, was a highly respected scholar and a devoted father. He joined the Haas faculty in 2012, specializing in quantitative marketing, industrial organization, and digital marketing. Friends and family remember him as a kind, brilliant, and sociable individual who loved teaching, traveling, and spending time with his two children, 10-year-old twins Zoe and Angelo.

The Tragic Events in Greece

Jeziorski was in Greece for a custody hearing concerning his children, who live with his ex-wife, Nadia Michelidaki. On July 3, the day before his death, the couple attended a court hearing in Athens. On July 4, Jeziorski was shot five times at close range by a masked gunman outside Michelidaki’s home as he arrived to see his children. The assailant fled in a waiting getaway car. His brother, Lukasz Jeziorski, stated that Przemyslaw was "murdered in cold blood."

Arrests and Allegations

Greek authorities have arrested five individuals in connection with Jeziorski’s murder, including his ex-wife, Nadia Michelidaki, her current partner, a Bulgarian man, and two Albanian nationals. Michelidaki’s current partner has reportedly admitted to his involvement in the shooting. Police sources indicate the shooting "bore signs of a contract killing." Michelidaki has maintained her innocence.

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A Contentious Relationship

Jeziorski and Michelidaki divorced in 2019, but their relationship remained fraught due to an ongoing custody dispute over their twins and financial disagreements stemming from a shared Airbnb-style business they started in 2015. The divorce was not finalized until 2024. Friends described their relationship as "not very cordial," with one friend recalling an instance where Michelidaki physically assaulted Jeziorski in 2024. Jeziorski had reportedly filed for a restraining order against his ex-wife in May.

Community Mourns and Seeks Justice

  • The UC Berkeley Haas School of Business community is deeply saddened by the loss of Professor Jeziorski, remembering him as a beloved member of their faculty.
  • An online fundraiser has been established to help cover legal fees and facilitate the return of Jeziorski’s body to his native Poland.
  • The university plans to hold a memorial on campus in the fall.
  • Jeziorski’s family and friends are committed to ensuring justice is served for his "senseless tragedy."

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