A man has been charged with killing a Scottish woman whose remains were found stuffed into a suitcase in Greece.
Elisabeth Jane Ross, also known as Lisa, 38, was found dead inside a suitcase by a homeless man in an abandoned building in the district of Kypseli in Athens on Saturday, July 18. Police in Greece have since confirmed a 26-year-old man from Afghanistan has been arrested and charged in connection.
Reports from local media state that he faces charges of intentional homicide, robbery and weapons offences. Investigators determined that Lisa, from Edinburgh, arrived in Greece in late June and stayed at several locations before renting a ground-floor apartment in Exarchia.
According to cops, the accused had access to her apartment through a set of keys. Lisa was last known to have contacted a friend three days before she was found dead.
View 3 ImagesHer remains were discovered in an abandoned building(Image: cretalive.gr)
Her loved ones then became concerned when they continued receiving text messages that appeared uncharacteristic of her writing style – raising fears that someone else was using her phone. After cops trawled CCTV and mobile phone data, footage showed the suspect transporting a large suitcase from the Exarchia apartment to the abandoned building in Kypseli on the night of July 16.
Minutes later, he was captured leaving the area carrying only a backpack. The suspect’s wife also provided key evidence to the probe.
She told investigators that a location-sharing application showed her husband at Lisa’s apartment during the night of July 15 and into July 16. After Lisa’s identity became public, she reportedly suspected her husband’s involvement and left their home with her child.
His wife handed cops a mobile phone and €2,550 in cash that she believed may have belonged to the victim. During questioning, the suspect allegedly claimed he found Lisa dead in the apartment bathroom before placing her body in a suitcase and disposing of it the following night.
But police allege he later admitted to using the victim’s mobile phone to impersonate her in messages sent to relatives and friends, while also withdrawing money using her bank cards. A search of the suspect’s home on August 1 uncovered a replica Glock-style pistol and a military-style knife, leading to additional weapons charges.
View 3 ImagesThe suitcase was found on Evelpidon Street in the neighbourhood of Kypseli(Image: Google)
Police said forensic specialists were able to recover usable fingerprints from the victim despite the advanced decomposition of her body. Fingerprints matched to Lisa were found after a cooperation from Interpol.
The suspect has been referred to the competent prosecuting authority to face the charges. Lisa travelled to Greece on an Edinburgh flight on June 26.
Tributes poured in for her after the news of her death broke online. Her aunt said: “Lisa was my beautiful loving niece we can’t believe this has happened.”
Pauline Hood wrote: “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 penned: “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 added: “I hope they find out who did this! Sending condolences to Lisa’s family and friends!”
Article continues below
Edinburgh MSP Simita Kumar said: “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.
“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.”
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE