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The distraught family of a British woman who was found dead in a suitcase in Athens remembered her as “beautiful, loving and kind” as the police investigated whether foul play was involved in her death.
The body of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was discovered by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of the Greek capital on 18 July.
Ross, an Edinburgh resident, is believed to have died between five and seven days before she was found. However, investigators said that her phone remained highly active following her death.
Her aunt Anne Bangham said 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 on social media. “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.”
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Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was found in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens on 18 July (Supplied)
A woman who knew Ross from school wrote: “Lisa was a lovely girl, I went to school with her. Bless her and her family.”
A third tribute read: “RIP beautiful Lisa. I will always remember you for your beautiful smile, warmth, care and kindness you showed to everyone.”
The Greek police have said they were awaiting toxicology results to determine the cause of her death and “ascertain whether foul play was involved”.
Meanwhile, a string of text messages was sent from her in an apparent attempt to cover up her death before her body was discovered, police said.
The texts sent from Ross’s phone to her family on 15 July said that she “needed some time to herself” and that she “wanted to be alone for a while”.
Another message was sent from her phone, after police believe she had died, to a Greek friend she had been staying with days before she was found, the Daily Mail reported.
It read: “I need some time – I’m going to a Greek island.”
Ross travelled to Greece from Edinburgh on 29 June and initially stayed with friends in the town of Keratsini, in the suburbs of Athens, before meeting American friends in Kypseli on 15 July. Ross had been in Greece for about two weeks before she died, according to reports.
She had travelled to Greece via Cyprus from the US, where her fingerprints were registered.
Police were checking airline passenger information to determine whether she travelled alone and local accommodation registries for bookings under her name.
First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, said the Scottish government and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) would support Ross’s family.
He said: “This is an absolutely appalling case that has been reported overnight. And obviously I’m deeply concerned that such a tragedy has taken place.”
The FCDO 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.”