Authorities in Greece are investigating a series of Facebook messages and mobile phone activity that appeared after the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a 38-year-old woman from Edinburgh whose body was discovered in a suitcase in Athens on July 18. The messages, sent from Ross's phone and Facebook account, suggest an attempt to cover up her death.
Ross's body was found by a homeless man in a derelict parking lot in an Athenian suburb. She was identified by Interpol after her fingerprints and DNA matched those of a missing person report. Ross, known as Lisa, was described by family and friends as a devout Christian who had traveled the world performing charitable work, including assisting refugees in Kurdistan and working with abused women and migrants in Greece since 2019.
Investigators are particularly focused on a Facebook post made on July 24, six days after Ross's body was discovered. The post, written in a style that mimicked her previous religious messages, stated her intention to travel to Turkey to join two women serving there. Friends noted that this post was unusual, especially if Ross was already deceased.
Ross's lawyer father reported receiving messages from her phone between July 15 and July 29. One message sent on July 15 stated, "I need some time – I'm going to a Greek island." Other messages to her family claimed she needed time alone. The phone remained active in Athens until approximately 24 hours before Ross's death was reported globally, at which point it was switched off.
Police are seeking a homeless man known as 'Markos,' who is described as around 40 years old, heavily tattooed, and a regular presence in the derelict building where the suitcase was found. He has not been seen since the discovery of Ross's body. Residents have described him as a dangerous individual.
Ross had arrived in Greece on June 26 and was reportedly staying with Greek friends in the Keratsini district of Piraeus. She informed them on July 15 that she was leaving to stay with American friends in Kypseli, a more central part of Athens. Her Greek friends have been cleared of any wrongdoing, and police are now trying to locate these alleged American acquaintances. One theory under consideration is that these American friends may not exist and that Ross mentioned them to allay any concerns her other friends might have had about her being alone.
Forensic examinations have ruled out strangulation and fatal head injuries. Authorities are now investigating the possibility of drugs or other toxic substances being involved in her death. The body is believed to have been placed in the abandoned building on July 17. Police are continuing to question individuals in the area, including homeless people and drug users, as they piece together Ross's final movements.