Greek authorities are seeking unidentified American acquaintances of Elizabeth Jane Ross, a 38-year-old British woman whose body was discovered in a suitcase in Athens on July 18. Investigators are working to reconstruct Ross's movements during the 72 hours leading up to the discovery of her remains.
Ross had been staying with Greek friends in the Keratsini district but informed them on July 15 that she was going to stay with Americans she knew in the central Athens neighborhood of Kypseli. Police have stated that her Greek friends are not under suspicion and are cooperating with the investigation.
Investigators are examining whether messages were sent from Ross's phone after her death as part of an effort to conceal the crime. A text message sent to a Greek friend on July 15 stated, "I need some time – I'm going to a Greek island." Similar messages were sent to her family, indicating she "needed some time to herself" and "wanted to be alone for a while."
The phone, which is still missing, remained active in the Athens area until shortly before Ross was formally identified. It was then switched off as news of her death emerged.
Ross's father, a lawyer from Edinburgh, reported receiving messages from July 15 to July 29. A Greek police officer noted that the phone was in use and messages were sent to suggest she was still alive.
Police conducted house-to-house inquiries and collected CCTV footage in Kypseli, where a homeless individual discovered Ross's body in an abandoned car park after spotting a leg protruding from a suitcase. A police source indicated that Ross had told her Greek friends she would be staying with American friends in Kypseli but provided no further details.
Ross arrived in Athens on June 26, traveling from the United States via Edinburgh. An initial examination of her body revealed no obvious wounds or signs of struggle. Greek media reports suggest that an autopsy has ruled out strangulation and head injuries as causes of death, though the official cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Shocked locals have left flowers at the entrance to the parking lot where the body was found. Authorities believe the suitcase, due to its weight, suggests the perpetrators likely stayed in or near the Kypseli area. Ross's aunt, Anne Bangham, described the situation as "horrific" and stated that her niece had recently arrived in Athens to work.