An American couple who took in an Afghan migrant now accused of killing a British missionary and stuffing her body in a suitcase in Greece have spoken out about their disbelief following his arrest.
The couple, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Daily Mail they were heartbroken to learn that Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, had been arrested in connection with the death of Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, a Scottish Christian missionary volunteering in Athens.
Recalling Ahmadzai's time living with them on the Greek island of Lesvos, the couple stated they could not reconcile the current charges with the teenager they knew. They effectively 'adopted' Ahmadzai, then 16, in 2016 after his tent burned down in a fire at the Moria refugee camp. He had been working in the camp as a translator for relief organizations.
"When camp burned down," his adoptive father told the Daily Mail, "I brought him and a couple guys home at like five in the morning when I finally made it back and he stayed, the other guys left."
During his nearly two years with the family, Ahmadzai called them 'mom' and 'dad.' The couple, along with their two now-adult sons, provided him with a family environment. He sometimes received help with English and schoolwork from his adoptive mother, and online photos showed Christmas gifts from his adoptive family.
The couple housed Ahmadzai until they returned to their home in Atlanta, Georgia, two years later. They last saw him in 2019 during a visit to Europe.
Ahmadzai's "adoptive mom" expressed devastation over the charges, which include "intentional homicide," robbery, and weapons offenses. "When I heard the news, I couldn't imagine it to be true. Not in a million years," she told the Daily Mail. "It doesn't feel real at all. I keep thinking I'm gonna wake up and it was a nightmare, and it's over."
The couple maintained that Ahmadzai never exhibited any behavior suggesting he was capable of such violence. "Absolutely not, no," the husband replied when asked if they ever thought he could commit such an act. "I mean, he had issues like everybody does, but no. There could be some trying times with him, but it was usually more rebellion against authority or just him feeling sorry for himself."
His wife characterized his difficulties as "normal teenager stuff," adding that, like many refugees, he had experienced significant trauma. Ahmadzai's life story includes the loss of his entire family in Afghanistan, with his father and brother killed by the Taliban, and his mother, sister, and another brother dying in a suicide bombing. He later fled Kabul, enduring a perilous journey through Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey.
After two failed attempts to reach Greece by boat from Turkey, Ahmadzai arrived on Lesvos at age 16 and entered the Moria camp. He eventually converted to Christianity and met his future wife, Alaina Hall, 28, an American Christian missionary also volunteering with a relief charity in the camp. The couple married in 2023 and welcomed their first child in April.
Ahmadzai is suspected of killing Ross on July 15. Police sources indicated that the apartment where Ross was staying belonged to the organization "Love Every Nation Athens," for which Ahmadzai and his wife worked, and that they had a key to the property. Ahmadzai's wife reportedly raised the alarm with Greek police after becoming suspicious of his behavior and tracing him to the victim's apartment.
Ahmadzai is currently in custody and has refused to enter a plea. He reportedly told police that he did not kill Ross, claiming he found her dead and panicked, leading him to take "unjustified actions."
Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, was found dead in Athens with her body stuffed in a suitcase. CCTV footage reportedly showed Ahmadzai dragging a suitcase through the streets of Athens. He was later pictured being led from the Athens Court House.
Alaina Hall's background includes a seemingly privileged childhood in Ringgold, Georgia. Her parents, Tom and Susan Hall, are active members of their church community and had previously taken Alaina on mission trips. Hall attended Grace Baptist School Academy and planned to attend Berry College, but instead traveled to Greece in 2016 to volunteer in the Moria camp.