Greek police announced on Sunday, August 2, 2026, the arrest of a 26-year-old man suspected in the homicide of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a 38-year-old British woman from Scotland. Ross's body was found inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in the Kypseli area of Athens on July 18.

According to a statement by the police, the suspect, identified in media reports as an Afghan national, confessed to his actions and now faces charges including intentional homicide, robbery, and violations of firearms legislation. Authorities revealed that the suspect placed the victim's body in a suitcase and transported it to the abandoned premises. In the days following, he used Ross's bank cards to withdraw money.

Ross had arrived in Greece in late June 2026 and stayed at a friend's home in the Piraeus area until July 10, after which she was last known to be in the greater Athens area. Police recovered a replica pistol and a knife from the suspect's home.

Greek authorities credited international cooperation, including assistance from Interpol and law enforcement agencies in the US and UK, for identifying the victim despite the advanced state of decomposition.

According to reports, the suspect claimed the victim was already dead when he found her, though police did not confirm this in their statement.

Sources