Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a 38-year-old Scottish woman from the Edinburgh area, has been identified after her body was discovered inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens in Greece. The case has taken a disturbing turn after Greek police arrested a 26-year-old Afghan man for her death, while investigators examine allegations that messages were sent from Elisabeth-Jane Ross’s phone after she had died.
Ross had reportedly travelled regularly to Greece to help refugees and homeless people. Her death has now prompted an investigation involving Greek authorities, with police examining the circumstances surrounding her death and the activity from her phone and bank cards afterward.
ALSO READ: 3,900-kg SpaceX rocket to smash into the Moon on August 5
Who was Elisabeth-Jane Ross?
Elisabeth-Jane Ross was a 38-year-old Scottish aid worker from the Edinburgh area who had strong links to humanitarian work in Greece. She reportedly travelled to the country frequently and had connections with an organisation assisting refugees, including people arriving from Afghanistan and Iran.
Ross was also described as someone who regularly helped homeless people. According to reports, her humanitarian work took her to different parts of the world, including work assisting Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan region.
A friend described Elisabeth-Jane Ross as someone who was deeply committed to helping others.
“We lost an angel,” the friend said. “She was full of innocence and kindness. She only wanted to help people everywhere she went.”
ALSO READ: Thousands of bees attacked a mother and her 2-year-old son in Scotland
Elizabeth-Jane Ross travelled to Greece in June
According to reports, Elisabeth-Jane Ross arrived in Greece in late June after travelling from the United States via Cyprus. She initially stayed with friends in the Athens-area town of Keratsini before reportedly planning to travel to the Kypseli area of Athens.
According to reports, Ross told people she was staying with that she intended to meet American friends in Kypseli. It remains unclear whether that meeting ever happened.
Her body was found inside a suitcase in Athens
The investigation into Elizabeth-Jane Ross' mysterious death began after a homeless man found her body inside a suitcase on July 18.
The suitcase was found inside a derelict building in Kypseli, Athens, according to Sky News and The Independent. According to police, Elisabeth-Jane Ross had died between five and seven days before her body was discovered.
The discovery initially left investigators facing questions over Ross’s identity and what had happened to her.
Greek police later identified her using fingerprint data, with Interpol assisting in the identification process.
Messages were reportedly sent from Elisabeth-Jane Ross’s phone
One of the most troubling elements of the Elisabeth-Jane Ross case concerns her mobile phone.
Investigators believe messages were sent from Ross’s phone after her death in what appeared to be an attempt to make family and friends believe she was still alive or simply wanted to be left alone.
According to The Independent, messages sent to her family reportedly said she “needed some time to herself” and “wanted to be alone for a while.”
Another message reportedly sent to a Greek friend said: “I need some time – I’m going to a Greek island.”
The messages continued to raise questions because Ross was believed to have already died by that point.
Police arrest a 26-year-old man
The investigation later led to the arrest of a 26-year-old man in Athens.
Sky News reported that Greek police arrested the man on suspicion of manslaughter, robbery and violations of weapons laws. Police reportedly found a replica pistol and a knife at his home.
Ynet reported that investigators also linked the suspect to alleged use of Ross’s bank cards at several ATMs. Security camera footage reportedly showed withdrawals being made with the cards.
Greek police said, according to reports, that the suspect confessed to the killing. However, the investigation and legal proceedings remain ongoing.
Police Scotland supporting her family
The UK Foreign Office said it was providing consular support to Ross’s family and remaining in contact with Greek authorities. Police Scotland also confirmed that officers were supporting her family in Scotland.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece.”
The investigation into the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross remains ongoing as authorities continue examining the evidence surrounding her final days, the messages sent from her phone and the circumstances in which her body was found.
