Elisabeth-Jane Ross was described as ‘beautiful’ and ‘loving’ by family
A man has been arrested following the death of a Scottish woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Athens.
Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was believed to be staying with friends in Athens earlier this month before she was found dead. A 26-year-old man, who Greek police said was not from Greece, was arrested after her death.
Family have paid tribute to Ms Ross, with her aunt Anne Bangham saying on social media that the family “can’t believe this happened” as she paid tribute to her “beautiful” and “loving” niece.
“It is horrific. We just can’t believe it. She was such a beautiful, loving and kind young lady,” she wrote in a post. “I wish I could get my hands on whoever did it. She had not long arrived there to work. It will take a while to sink in.”
Ms Ross travelled to Greece from Edinburgh on 29 June and initially stayed with friends in Piraeus, in the suburbs of Athens, before leaving for an unknown destination within Attica after 10 July.
Her body was subsequently discovered by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of Athens on 18 July. She is believed to have died between five and seven days before she was found.
Despite the advanced decomposition and “adverse environmental conditions”, the Hellenic police force was able to identify the victim using fingerprints and did a toxicology test to determine the cause of death. The force analysed video footage to identify the suspect, who “confessed to his actions” on Thursday.
The 26-year-old man is accused of putting her body into a suitcase and taking it to the abandoned site where it was found. In the following days, he is accused of using her bank card to withdraw money.
A replica pistol and a knife were found at the suspect’s home during a police search and police have filed a case against him for manslaughter, robbery and violation of weapons laws.
Police believe that Ms Ross’s phone was used to send messages after her death, in an alleged attempt to put people looking for her “off the scent”.
The texts sent from her phone to her family and friends on 15 July said she “needed some time to herself” and she “wanted to be alone for a while”, according to reports.
Authorities are working to establish who may have been using Ms Ross’s phone.
A statement released on Sunday said: “A 26-year-old foreigner was identified in the case and arrested for violating the weapons law. Cooperation was carried out with police authorities of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Scotland.”
Hellenic Police worked with the National Crime Agency and Police Scotland.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: “Our thoughts are with Elisabeth’s family during this difficult time. We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece.
“Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland.”
Police have filed a case for manslaughter, robbery and violation of weapons laws and said the arrested person was taken to the competent prosecution authority.