Elisabeth-Jane Ross had reportedly been staying with friends in Keratsini, a suburb of Athens, before her death
Credit: Handout
NEED TO KNOW
- Police are investigating after a man reportedly found the body of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Greece
- The man alerted authorities in Athens on Saturday, July 18 after he noticed a human leg protruding from the case, per a local report
- Officials are yet to confirm reports suggesting someone may have used Ross’ phone after her death to potentially mislead friends
Police are investigating after the body of a Scottish woman was found inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Greece.
The body of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was reportedly found by a man experiencing homelessness in the Kypseli neighborhood of Athens at about 12 p.m. local time on Saturday, July 18, the BBC reported, citing Greek broadcaster ERT.
The remains were discovered after the man noticed a human leg protruding from the case at the location on Evelpidon Street, per ERT News. After he alerted authorities, police cordoned off the building and a forensic pathologist examined the body, the outlet stated.
Officials believe Ross had arrived in Greece from the U.S., and had traveled via Cyprus, on June 29, per STV News.
Ross was initially identified through a U.S. biometric database because she had previously worked in the country, ERT News reported. U.S. authorities then informed police in Greece.
Credit: Google Maps
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
According to local newspaper Ta Nea, Ross’ father told officers his daughter was staying with two friends in Keratsini, a suburb of Athens. The couple and their relatives told police that Ross left the area on Wednesday, July 15, to meet some American friends in Kypseli.
The Homicide Department of the Hellenic Police, Greece’s national police force, is working to determine what happened to Ross in the last days of her life, as well as whether she traveled to Greece alone and who else she was in contact with during her time in the country.
Investigators believe her last communication with her boyfriend was on July 15, the day she left for Kypseli, while her cellphone continued to emit a signal until the morning of the day her body was found, per ERT News.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Helena Smith, The Guardian‘s correspondent in Athens, explained, “It would seem that someone had control over her [cellphone] after she died and was sending messages to distract the authorities and close friends from trying to track her down.”
Police are collecting security camera footage from the area, while the suitcase, which did not belong to Ross, could also provide clues if it contains DNA or fingerprints, Ta Nea reported.
“We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece,” Police Scotland told PEOPLE. “Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland.”
PEOPLE has reached out to the Hellenic Police for additional information, but did not immediately hear back.
Read the full article here
