British woman identified after body found in suitcase in Athens

British woman identified after body found in suitcase in Athens

Authorities in Greece have identified the remains of a woman found inside a suitcase in a derelict building in central Athens as Elizabeth Jane Ross, a 38-year-old British national. The identification came on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, eleven days after the discovery of the body.

A homeless man alerted police after finding the suitcase on July 18 in a building located on Evelpidon Street. The discovery took place in Kypseli, a downtown district that is popular among foreign nationals, according to the public broadcaster ERT.

Greek homicide officers initially failed to find a match in local databases and subsequently sent fingerprints to Interpol. DNA evidence provided by US authorities assisted police in confirming the identity of the victim, who was born in Scotland in 1988. Her next of kin have been informed.

The circumstances surrounding the death of Ross remain a mystery. Local media, citing postmortem results, reported that she had been dead for eight days before the body was found. Other reports suggest she may have died between five and seven days prior to the discovery on July 18. Despite the nature of the find, these reports stated there was no evidence of injury or a struggle.

Greek police are treating the incident as a criminal act.

"Further details have been requested regarding when she arrived in Greece, how, and with whom,"

Investigators are currently examining CCTV to trace the movements Ross made before her death. They are also contacting airlines to reconstruct her travel history and determine if she was traveling with others. Officials in Cyprus and Greece are reviewing hotel bookings and flight logs. Ross had reportedly arrived in Greece from Cyprus on June 29, having flown to the region from the US.

Adding to the confusion of the case, her mobile phone remained fully operational until the news of her identification was released on Wednesday.

Friends who were staying with Ross in Athens reported seeing her for the last time on July 15.

The investigation has drawn international attention and coordination. A spokesperson for Police Scotland stated the agency is aware of the death and is liaising with Greek authorities. Similarly, a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office said:

"Our thoughts are with Elizabeth’s family during this difficult time. We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities."

While the Greek police have noted that the investigation is fully underway, they have not yet determined the official cause of death. Greek officials have not ruled out the possibility that investigators from the UK may join the inquiry.