©Constantinos Kollias via Unsplash
Greek police have released new information regarding the death of 38-year-old British woman Elizabeth Jane Ross, whose body was found inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in the Kypseli neighborhood of Athens last month. Her remains were found on July 18 by a homeless man. Her identity was later confirmed through fingerprints in a U.S. database with the help of Interpol.
Elizabeth Ross had traveled from the U.S. to Greece via Cyprus on June 29 and was staying with Greek friends in Keratsini. On July 15, according to friends, she left to spend time with a group of Americans in Kypseli. The police have ruled out any involvement by her Greek friends but are now urgently searching for those American contacts.
Mysterious messages after her death
Investigators say that messages sent from her phone to family and friends—with texts such as “I need some time to myself” and “I’m going to a Greek island”—were likely sent by someone else to give the impression that she was still alive. Her father continued to receive messages until July 29, even though her body had already been found on July 18. The phone itself has not been recovered, but remained active until shortly after the discovery.
According to the police, the suitcase in which Elizabeth Ross was found does not belong to her. After all, she was traveling light. Forensic investigators are now examining the suitcase for DNA and fingerprints, in the hope of tracking down the perpetrator(s). An initial autopsy revealed no external injuries or signs of strangulation; a toxicological examination is still needed to determine the cause of death.
What happened?
Officers are working on the theory that Ross may have been lured to the abandoned building by a homeless person. The exact circumstances remain unclear. Police are treating the building as a crime scene and are conducting neighborhood inquiries and analyzing surveillance footage. The British Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) stated: “Our thoughts are with the family. We are providing consular assistance and are in contact with local authorities.”
©Constantinos Kollias via Unsplash - illustrative image