Greek police arrested a 26-year-old man after he transported the body of a 38-year-old Scottish woman in a suitcase and abandoned it in an abandoned building in central Athens. He also used the victim's ATM card to withdraw money. The victim's body had been concealed for several days before being discovered.
Greek police revealed that the 26-year-old man, identified by local and international media as Afghan, confessed to moving the body of Elizabeth-Jane Ross, known as "Lisa," a 38-year-old Scottish woman, placing it in a suitcase and dumping it in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens.
Ross's body was discovered on 18 July by a homeless man inside a suitcase within the abandoned building. Her family had reported her missing several days earlier. Preliminary examinations suggest she had been dead for about 5 to 7 days before the body was found.
Greek police stated that the investigation is being conducted in cooperation with agencies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Scotland. They reviewed CCTV footage to identify a suspect, who was then taken in for questioning and confessed last Thursday.
During the investigation, it was found that the suspect placed the victim's body in a suitcase and abandoned it in the building. Subsequently, he used the victim's ATM card to withdraw cash multiple times. Authorities also searched the suspect's residence, seizing one replica firearm and one knife.
Currently, the police have charged the suspect with negligent homicide, robbery, and weapons offenses. However, formal charges are still being processed according to Greek legal procedures.
Investigation details indicate Ross arrived in Greece on 26 June and stayed with Greek friends in Piraeus. On 15 July, she reportedly planned to travel to the Kypseli area to meet an American friend or acquaintance, though it remains unclear if the meeting took place.
Police are actively trying to locate the American friend Ross intended to meet and are expediting toxicology tests to determine the cause of death. Results are expected within a few days, although such analyses can sometimes take weeks or months depending on case complexity.
John Swinney, Scotland's Deputy First Minister, described the case as "deeply tragic." The Scottish government stated it has been coordinating with the victim's family and the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to provide close support, while requesting the public respect the family's privacy during this difficult time.
Additionally, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Police Scotland confirmed they are supporting the victim's family and maintaining continuous coordination with Greek authorities throughout the investigation.