Greek police have identified a primary suspect in the murder of Elizabeth-Jane Ross, a 38-year-old British woman whose body was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase in an abandoned car park in Athens.
The suspect, known locally as ‘Markos,’ is described as a volatile homeless man around 40 years old, with tattoos, black hair, and a stocky build. He is known for carrying a knife and displaying aggressive behavior, particularly towards women. Markos regularly slept rough in the derelict area where Ms. Ross’s body was found but has not been seen since the discovery, prompting a citywide manhunt.
Ms. Ross, originally from Edinburgh, had been visiting Greece for over seven years, working with NGOs to assist vulnerable groups including abused women, migrants, and the homeless. It is believed she may have been in the Kypseli district, known for its homeless population, for compassionate reasons related to her faith. Friends suggest she may have misled them about her movements, knowing they would be concerned if she revealed she was attempting to help homeless individuals.
Ms. Ross was reported missing on July 15, having traveled to Greece from Edinburgh via Cyprus in late June. Her body was found three days later. Initial examinations revealed no obvious wounds or signs of struggle, and no identification was found on her. Her identity was eventually confirmed by Interpol in America.
Investigators are working to reconstruct Ms. Ross’s final days. She was last known to be staying with Greek friends in the Keratsini district. On July 15, she told them she was going to stay with Americans she knew in the Kypseli area. Police have cleared the Greek friends of any involvement and are attempting to trace these alleged American contacts, but their existence is now being questioned.
Further complicating the investigation, Ms. Ross’s phone was active in the Athens area after her disappearance, with messages sent to friends and family suggesting she needed time alone or was going to a Greek island. Her father, a lawyer from Edinburgh, reported receiving messages until July 29. Authorities believe the phone was used in an attempt to mislead investigators and create the impression she was still alive. The phone is still missing.
Police believe Ms. Ross's body was placed in the abandoned building on July 17. The discovery was made by another homeless individual who found the suitcase and, in attempting to open it, revealed a leg sticking out.
Local residents and other homeless individuals in the Kypseli district have been questioned by police. Hamid Reza, who sleeps outside shops near the crime scene, told reporters that police identified Markos as their primary suspect and are eager to locate him. He also corroborated reports that Markos has a reputation for aggression and that a Bulgarian tourist had previously reported an attempted knifepoint sexual assault by him in the same area earlier this year. This alleged incident, which was not reported at the time, is being explored by detectives.
A local business owner also confirmed that police had inquired about Markos, noting his disappearance since the discovery of Ms. Ross’s body and stating that women in the area feel unsafe around him.