Man arrested after British woman found dead in suitcase

Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a charity worker from the Edinburgh area, travelled to Greece on 26 June. According to Hellenic Police, the 38-year-old initially stayed with friends in the Piraeus area before moving to a ground-floor flat on Rethymnou Street in the Exarchia district of central Athens on July 2. Investigators established that her last confirmed sign of life occurred on July 15 at 9.41pm, when she spoke by phone with someone close to her.

On July 18, a homeless man discovered the body of Elisabeth-Jane Ross inside a suitcase in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of Athens. Police identified the deceased as Ross through fingerprint analysis. Initial post-mortem examinations proved inconclusive because of advanced decomposition.

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Investigators discovered that Ross’s mobile phone remained active after her death, sending messages to relatives and friends. According to Greek police and media reports, the messages were part of an effort to mislead investigators and create the false impression that she was still alive. On the morning of July 19, the victim's phone was activated in Arachova. Greek police confirmed that the chief suspect attempted to mislead detectives by sending messages claiming a jihadist extremist was responsible for her death.

CCTV footage captured a sequence of events on the night of July 16. Security cameras recorded a suspect arriving by car on Rethymnou Street and leaving carrying a large travel suitcase. Footage from Evelpidon Street later showed him on foot handling the suitcase, before leaving the area thirteen minutes later carrying only a light-coloured backpack.

Greek homicide investigators brought a 26-year-old Afghan national to police headquarters, where he confessed to his actions. Police seized a replica pistol and a knife from his home. He later admitted that he had panicked at the prospect of being accused of her murder, and had therefore decided to dispose of the body by placing it in a suitcase in order to avoid implication in the case, and admitted to taking her bank card and withdrawing money.

"Our priority is to get to the bottom of who left the suitcase. Whoever they were was careful not to leave fingerprints or DNA. We've had the entire homicide division of the Greek FBI working on the case. We're in contact with other police forces. We're going to solve this."

Konstantina Dimoglidou, spokesperson, via Mirror

A statement released by police said: “A criminal file has been opened against a 26-year-old foreign national for intentional homicide, robbery and violation of the law [regarding] weapons.” Security officials said “various arms – some real, some fake” had been discovered in the suspect’s home. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued a statement confirming consular support and expressing condolences to the family, while Police Scotland acknowledged liaison with Greek authorities and support for relatives in Scotland.

First Minister John Swinney called it an "absolutely appalling case". Meanwhile, Greek forensic experts, including Grigoris Leon of the Hellenic Society of Forensic Medicine, fast-tracked toxicology and organ-tissue analyses. The coroner examining the case has assessed that the overall body of evidence, together with the condition of the body, points to a criminal act, with asphyxiation the most likely cause of death, while toxicology results are still pending.

Beyond the formal charges, investigators are examining the suspect's financial transactions, including money and a brand new iPhone 17 Pro given to his partner, which have been handed over to the authorities.