Investigation into the death of a British woman found in a suitcase in Athens

On July 18, 2026, the body of a 38-year-old British woman, Elizabeth Jane Ross (E.J.R.), was discovered inside a suitcase within an abandoned building on Evelpidon Street in the Kypseli neighborhood of Athens. The victim, born in February 1988, had traveled to Greece from Edinburgh, Scotland. Her identity was confirmed by Greek authorities through biometric data provided by the Interpol office in Washington, D.C.

Investigations indicate that the victim had been staying with friends in Keratsini before leaving on July 15 to visit acquaintances in Kypseli. Forensic evidence suggests she died shortly before her body was found, and while no external trauma was initially visible, the case is being treated as a homicide. A critical finding is that the victim's mobile phone remained active in Athens until shortly before her body was identified, and misleading messages were sent to her family from the device after July 15, likely by the perpetrator(s) to gain time.

Local authorities have questioned individuals associated with the victim, and the investigation now focuses on tracing the suspect's movements, reviewing airline passenger data, and locating the missing phone. While initial reports erroneously suggested she traveled via Cyprus, police confirmed her arrival was directly from Scotland.