The family of Elisabeth Jane Ross, a British national found deceased in a suitcase in Athens, has broken their silence following her death. Ross, from Edinburgh, was discovered after allegedly being killed by Sharif Ahmadzai, an Afghan migrant who is currently in custody.
Ross, 38, had been a frequent visitor to Greece over the past seven years, dedicating her time to volunteering with non-governmental organizations that assist refugees, homeless individuals, and other vulnerable populations. She had previously worked with the One Heart organization, which provides medical support to refugees, particularly those from Afghanistan and Iran.
Ross arrived in Athens on June 26 and was initially staying with friends in the Keratsini district. She later moved to Rethymnou Street in the city center on July 2, continuing her volunteer work with a Christian-based NGO focused on refugees. Her body was discovered in an abandoned building approximately two weeks later.
In a statement released on Thursday, her family described her as "kind, principled and selfless," adding that "Her integrity was absolute, and she dedicated her life to helping others in need." They expressed their profound grief and requested privacy during this difficult time.
Ahmadzai, a 26-year-old boxer from Afghanistan, is facing charges including manslaughter, robbery, and illegal gun possession. He has refused to enter a plea, and toxicological test results are still pending, according to legal sources. He reportedly told authorities that he did not kill Ross but found her dead and panicked, leading him to move her body.
According to his account, he visited Ross's apartment and found her unresponsive on the bathroom floor. He claimed to have panicked and left the premises, encountering an elderly man near a bus stop who advised him to remove the body from the house to avoid trouble. Ahmadzai stated he returned the following day, placed Ross's body in a black suitcase, and transported it in a red Peugeot. He further alleged that he left the suitcase with the same elderly man at an abandoned building across from the Panhellenic University, who then assured him he would handle it.
Authorities began investigating Ahmadzai after his American wife, Christian Alaina Hall, reportedly raised suspicions about his behavior on July 30. Hall told police that she last saw Ross on July 12 after a Bible study meeting. She became suspicious when she woke on the evening of July 15 to find her husband missing and his shared location indicating he was at Ross's apartment. When confronted, he claimed he was out watching football but had briefly gone to Ross's apartment to use the toilet.
Hall also recounted receiving two text messages from Ross's phone the morning after she last saw her, which she found uncharacteristic in tone and language. She attempted to call Ross but received no response. Her suspicions grew, leading to police involvement.
CCTV footage reportedly shows Ahmadzai leaving the apartment with a suitcase and later discarding it in the location where Ross's remains were found on July 16. Ahmadzai also admitted to taking Ross's phone and bank cards, using the cards to withdraw money and sending messages to Ross's contacts to allay their concerns. He stated he gave the money withdrawn to the elderly man under duress, fearing he would report him to the police. He identified the man as 'Nikos,' who he said frequented the area where the suitcase was left.
Ahmadzai arrived in Greece in 2016, later converting to Christianity and marrying Hall in 2023. Together, they established a ministry to aid refugees in Athens. He appeared in court on Wednesday, where he denied murder but maintained his claim about the involvement of an unidentified elderly man in moving the body. He faces charges of intentional homicide, robbery, and weapons offenses.