The family of Elisabeth Jane Ross, a 38-year-old British woman from Scotland, has paid tribute to her after her body was found stuffed inside a suitcase in Athens. Ross was discovered on July 18 in the Kypseli district by a homeless man who alerted authorities after spotting what appeared to be a human limb protruding from the luggage. She is believed to have died between five and seven days before her body was found.
Ross had flown from the United States to Athens via Edinburgh on June 29 and was reportedly staying with friends. Local media reported that she had been staying with friends in the town of Keratsini before meeting American friends in Kypseli on July 15.
Her aunt, Anne Bangham, described Ross as a "beautiful, loving and kind young lady" and expressed disbelief at the horrific circumstances. "We just can't believe it. She was such a beautiful, loving and kind young lady. I wish I could get my hands on whoever did it. She had not long arrived there to work. It will take a while to sink in," Bangham stated.
Greek police are investigating the possibility that the killer used Ross's phone to send misleading messages in an attempt to cover up the crime and gain time to escape. Texts sent from her phone after her death reportedly claimed she wanted to be alone and was going to a Greek island, messages investigators believe were designed to deceive. One such message was sent to a Greek male friend she had known for years and had stayed with days before her body was found. Other messages sent to her family also indicated she needed time to herself.
The phone, which remains missing, was active in the Athens area for over 24 hours after her estimated time of death, only being turned off around the time her death became public knowledge. Her father, a lawyer from Edinburgh, informed officers he had been receiving messages between July 15 and July 29.
Toxicology tests are currently underway to determine the cause of her death and whether foul play was involved. However, due to the advanced state of decomposition of her body, these tests are expected to take weeks. Initial examinations of the body and the suitcase revealed no immediate evidence to identify a third party. A police source noted that the suitcase did not appear to belong to the victim, as she had not traveled with large luggage.
Investigators are analyzing CCTV footage from the area where Ross was found and believe the perpetrators likely stayed nearby, given the weight of the suitcase. Police have interviewed three Greek friends, including the man Ross had been staying with, as well as a friend from Edinburgh. The mother of the local friend Ross was staying with is reportedly traveling to Athens to support the family.
Ross's identity was initially unknown as there were no identification documents on her body. Her identity was eventually established after Interpol examined fingerprint data and matched it to records in the U.S., where she had previously worked. She was identified as Elisabeth Jane Ross, born in February 1988, and understood to be from the Edinburgh area. She was described as being around 5ft 4in with reddish hair, wearing black shorts and a T-shirt. The shorts bore the name of a French university, which prompted Interpol's involvement.
Authorities have requested passenger information from the airline she traveled with and are checking local accommodation registries. A Greek police officer described the discovery as "unprecedented" in the history of Greek-British relations. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office confirmed they are providing consular support to the family and are in contact with local authorities, while Police Scotland is liaising with Greek authorities and supporting the family in Scotland.