Detectives probing the death of a Scottish woman whose remains were found inside a suitcase in Athens may establish the cause of death "in the coming days". Greek police have expedited toxicology examinations into the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, originally from Edinburgh.
Her body was discovered by a rough sleeper in a derelict property in the Kypseli area of Athens on 18 July. According to local authorities, she had been deceased for roughly eight days and bore no visible injuries or obvious indications of a struggle. A post-mortem examination is currently in progress, though toxicology results typically require weeks to months to be completed.
Body found on Evelpidon Street
Lisa, as she was also known, was found on Evelpidon Street at about 1pm on July 18 after a homeless man noticed an unpleasant odour in a building that had stood vacant for two years. He saw a human limb protruding from a suitcase.
Initially, officers were unable to identify her as she reportedly carried no identification. She was thought to be about 30 years old, standing at 5ft 4in, with reddish hair styled in a bun, dressed in black shorts bearing a French university logo and a T-shirt. By Monday, Interpol had informed the Hellenic Police that DNA analysis confirmed the body was that of a Scottish woman. Lisa had flown to Greece from Edinburgh on June 26.
Tributes to the 'kindest soul'
Her aunt said: "Lisa was my beautiful loving niece we can't believe this has happened."
Pauline Hood shared: "I am totally devastated. One of the kindest souls I've ever met. Lisa would have done anything for anyone. She went that extra mile. She had a beautiful heart. I've got a lot of good memories of Lisa. Thinking of her friends and family at this most difficult time."
Jem Wren wrote: "Lisa was a lovely girl, I went to school with her. I just can't believe someone could do this to another person. Bless her and her family. RIP."
Anne Morrison commented: "I hope they find out who did this! Sending condolences to Lisa's family and friends!"
Edinburgh MSP Simita Kumar stated: "My heart breaks for Elisabeth-Jane Ross, and my thoughts are with her family and friends. It's a tragic loss of such a young life. My deepest sympathies are will all who knew her." She added: "I am aware that Police Scotland are liaising with the Greek authorities, and I hope that those responsible will be brought to justice as quickly as possible. My office and I will do all we can to support Elisabeth-Jane's family through this unimaginable time."
Texts sent after death
Investigators have disclosed that text messages were dispatched to family and friends from Lisa's mobile after her death. A Greek police official confirmed that communications were sent from her device in the period following her death right up until she was publicly identified. The official said: "The phone was being used. Text messages were even sent obviously with a view to making people believe she was still alive. We are treating the building as a crime scene."
On July 15, texts were sent to relatives saying Lisa "needed some time to herself" and "wanted to be alone for a while". That was the last date friends reported seeing her. A communication sent after her death on 18 July to a Greek acquaintance she had known "for years" read: "I need some time - I'm going to a Greek island."
The mobile remained active within the Athens region until Lisa was officially identified through media reports. Her Edinburgh-based father received communications from July 15 to 29.
American acquaintances sought
Lisa is believed to have been residing with Greek acquaintances in the Keratsini area and informed them on July 15 that she intended to move in with a group of Americans she was familiar with in Kypseli. Investigators have now redirected their focus towards locating the Americans after eliminating her Greek companions from their enquiries. They remain untraced.
Homeless man identified as prime suspect
A rough sleeper known as 'Markos' has been identified as a "prime suspect" in the investigation. He habitually slept in the abandoned building where the suitcase was found but has not been seen since it became a crime scene, sparking a city-wide search.
Markos is described as about 40 years old and extensively tattooed, a known heavy drinker and substance user with a history of aggressive and threatening behaviour, especially towards women.
Hamid Reza, a 67-year-old Iranian rough sleeper who lives near the location, told the Daily Mail: "They want to find and question him very quickly. They have been asking a lot of people and driving around the area looking for him." He added: "Everybody knows that Markos carries a knife, and local women are scared of him. He was always around this area, even living in the car park, but nobody has seen him since the body was discovered."
A Greek police source confirmed that detectives are examining his potential involvement, though emphasised that this information only emerged in recent days. The source said: "We have a lead on a homeless man. We want to question a particular individual. But we are also looking for a number of other people as part of this investigation."
