A woman from Britain was discovered dead inside a suitcase in Athens after allegedly informing friends about her plans to spend time with a group of unidentified Americans before her demise. The body of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, aged 38, was found by a homeless individual who noticed a leg protruding from the suitcase in an abandoned building on Evelpidon Street in the Kypseli neighborhood of Athens on July 18.
Before her death, Ross had been residing with Greek acquaintances in the Keratsini district near Athens’ main port. She informed her friends on July 15 that she was departing to stay with American acquaintances in the Kypseli area, as reported by the Daily Mail.
According to a police source cited by the Mail, Ross mentioned to her Greek friends about her intention to spend time with American companions in Kypseli without providing further details. The Greek friends cooperated with the authorities and provided crucial information during the investigation.
Authorities are examining the possibility that someone used Ross’s phone to send messages post her death to create a false impression of her being alive. One message sent to a Greek friend on July 15 stated: “I need some time – I’m going to a Greek island.” Her family also received messages claiming she needed time alone and wanted solitude for a while. Investigators suspect that the missing phone remained active in the Athens vicinity until shortly before Ross’s identification before being turned off.
Ross, born in Scotland in February 1988, is believed to have passed away between five and seven days prior to the discovery of her body. She is thought to have traveled to Greece from Cyprus the previous month. Her identification was made through Interpol and US databases using her fingerprints after her DNA did not match any records in Greece. While the initial forensic assessment did not reveal any apparent injuries or signs of a struggle, a post-mortem examination is anticipated to determine the cause of death.
A spokesperson from Police Scotland acknowledged the incident, stating that they are in contact with Greek authorities and providing support to the family in Scotland. Additionally, a Foreign Office representative expressed condolences to Elisabeth’s family, offering consular support and collaboration with local authorities during this challenging period.