A man has been taken into custody after the tragic discovery of a Scottish woman’s body inside a suitcase in Athens. The victim, identified as Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, hailing from the Edinburgh area, was found by a homeless individual in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens on July 18. It is estimated that she passed away approximately five to seven days prior to being found.
Greek authorities confirmed the arrest of a 26-year-old foreign national in connection with the case. Reports indicate that during the period between Ross’s presumed time of death and the discovery of her body, someone was using her mobile phone to send messages pretending to be her.
The Hellenic Police utilized fingerprint analysis to ascertain the victim’s identity. Toxicology tests are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding her death, with no official cause of death released yet.
Ross entered Greece on June 26 and initially stayed with friends in Piraeus before potentially meeting American acquaintances in another area of Athens, although this meeting remains uncertain.
The suspect was identified through video footage analysis and reportedly confessed to his involvement. He allegedly placed Ross’s body in a suitcase and transported it to the deserted location where it was found. Subsequently, he purportedly used her bank card to withdraw funds. Authorities discovered a replica firearm and a knife at the suspect’s residence, leading to charges of manslaughter, robbery, and weapons violations.
Previously, a Greek police spokesperson mentioned the meticulous efforts to trace the individual responsible for leaving the suitcase, emphasizing the collaborative investigative work being conducted to resolve the case.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office expressed condolences to Ross’s family and confirmed their assistance in coordination with local authorities. Police Scotland acknowledged the incident and stated that they are supporting the victim’s family in Scotland during this challenging period.