The body of Elizabeth Jane Ross, a 38-year-old woman from Scotland, was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens on Saturday, July 18. The grim discovery was made by a homeless man who alerted authorities after spotting what appeared to be a human limb protruding from the luggage.

Investigators believe Ross's phone was used in an effort to disguise the timeline of her death. A Greek officer stated that text messages were sent from the device in an apparent attempt to suggest she was still alive. The building where the body was found has been treated as a crime scene.

Ross had traveled from the United States to Europe on June 29, flying via Cyprus to Athens, where she was staying with friends. She was last seen on July 15, which forensic scientists estimate is around the time of her death. Authorities are awaiting toxicological test results to determine the cause of death, as an initial examination revealed no obvious injuries or signs of struggle.

Identification proved challenging initially, as no documents were found on the victim. While fingerprints were taken, they did not match any in the Greek national database but were registered in American databases. Police described the victim as approximately 5ft 4in tall with reddish hair, wearing black shorts and a T-shirt. The shorts bore the name of a French university, which prompted Interpol to be alerted.

The Interpol office in America subsequently confirmed the victim's identity as Elizabeth Jane Ross, born in February 1988, and informed the Hellenic Police. Greek news outlets released photos of Ross on Wednesday.

Investigators are requesting passenger information from the airline Ross traveled with to determine if she was accompanied, and are checking local accommodation records. Police estimate her death occurred between five and seven days before the body was found.

Authorities have described the discovery as unprecedented in the history of Greek-British relations. The investigation is being conducted in close collaboration with Cyprus Police. The British Embassy in Greece and Ross's father have been notified. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirmed they are providing consular support to the family, and Police Scotland is liaising with Greek authorities and supporting the family in Scotland.