British woman found dead in Athens suitcase

The body of Elizabeth Jane Ross, a 38-year-old British charity worker from Edinburgh, was discovered on July 18, 2026, inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens, Greece, by a homeless man. Greek police identified her through fingerprints and determined she had died between five and seven days earlier. A 26-year-old Afghan national, Sharif Ahmadzai, was arrested and charged with intentional homicide, robbery, and weapons offenses. He reportedly admitted to moving the body but denied murder. CCTV footage allegedly showed him wheeling the suitcase to the abandoned site. He is also accused of using her bank cards to withdraw over 10,000 euros and sending misleading messages from her phone. His wife, Alaina Hall, provided key evidence. The cause of death remains under investigation, with preliminary assessments suggesting possible asphyxiation. The case has drawn significant media attention and community shock in Athens.