A man accused of killing a Scottish woman in Athens and hiding her body in a suitcase is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
The victim, identified in Scotland as 38-year-old Elisabeth Jane Ross, was found inside the suitcase on July 18 in an abandoned building. Greek police stated that usable fingerprints were recovered from the victim despite the "advanced state of decomposition and difficult environmental conditions." The discovery occurred during a heat wave, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit).
The 26-year-old suspect, identified only as a foreign national granted legal asylum, was detained after investigators reviewed surveillance footage from near the building. Greek officials said the victim was identified with assistance from U.S. authorities, Interpol, and U.K. authorities.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed reports from Greek public broadcaster ERT that the suspect was born in Afghanistan and is pursuing a boxing career in Athens. Greek data protection laws generally prohibit naming criminal suspects without their consent.
The suspect was initially detained on illegal weapons possession charges. Police said he is now facing a murder charge, as well as allegations of stealing more than 10,000 euros ($11,500) from the victim’s bank accounts using her cards. The suspect admitted to moving the body but denied the murder allegations, according to Greek officials.
Officials are awaiting the results of tissue analysis to determine the exact cause of death, though a preliminary medical examiner assessment suggested suffocation.