An American couple who provided a home for Sharif Ahmadzai, an Afghan migrant now accused of murdering a British missionary in Athens, 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 Ahmadzai, 26, is suspected of killing Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, a Scottish Christian missionary.
The couple, who were engaged in humanitarian aid work on the Greek island of Lesvos, said they effectively adopted Ahmadzai in 2016 when he was 16. They took him into their home after his tent burned down during unrest at the Moria refugee camp. He had been working as a translator for relief groups within the camp. The couple stated that Ahmadzai, who referred to them as 'mom' and 'dad,' lived with them for nearly two years before they returned to their home in Atlanta, Georgia.
They last saw Ahmadzai in 2019 during a visit to Europe. The woman described her devastation, telling the Daily Mail, "When I heard the news, I couldn't imagine it to be true. Not in a million years." She added, "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 that would suggest he was capable of violence. "Absolutely not, no," the husband responded when asked if they ever suspected him of such acts. He acknowledged that Ahmadzai had "issues" and moments of "rebellion against authority or just him feeling sorry for himself," but described these as typical teenage behaviors, especially given the trauma many refugees experience. The couple suggested that the Sharif they knew as a teenager might not be the person he is today.
Ahmadzai's past includes significant trauma, according to accounts. His family was reportedly killed in Afghanistan, and he fled Kabul, undertaking a perilous journey through multiple countries. He reportedly lost fellow migrants during his travels and survived two boat sinkings before reaching Lesvos in 2016. While in the Moria camp, he reportedly converted to Christianity and met his future wife, Alaina Hall, 28, an American Christian missionary who was volunteering with a relief organization.
Authorities suspect Ahmadzai of killing Ross on July 15, then concealing her body in a suitcase and abandoning it in a derelict building in Athens. CCTV footage reportedly shows Ahmadzai dragging a suitcase through the city's streets. He is currently in custody and has not entered a plea. In a statement to police, Ahmadzai reportedly claimed he did not kill Ross, stating he found her dead and panicked, leading to a series of actions he described as unjustified.
Ahmadzai and his wife reportedly knew Ross through their humanitarian work in Lesvos, where she also volunteered with the same organization, Love Every Nation Athens. The apartment where Ross was staying was owned by this organization, and the couple possessed a key to the property. Alaina Ahmadzai reportedly alerted Greek police after becoming suspicious of her husband's behavior. She allegedly told authorities her husband was missing one night and that she had tracked his location to Ross's apartment. Her suspicions reportedly intensified after Ross's body was discovered, prompting her to leave their home with their infant child. She is believed to be staying at a hotel in Greece.