Greek police probe phone messages sent from British tourist's mobile days after her body was found in a suitcase

The discovery

The body of 38-year-old Elisabeth Ross, known as Lisa to her family, was found inside a suitcase on 18 July in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens. A homeless man alerted authorities after following a strong odour and seeing what appeared to be a human foot protruding from the suitcase. Ross had no identification documents on her, and her identity was confirmed only days later through Interpol's fingerprint database.

Ross had flown to Greece from Edinburgh in late June, arriving on 29 June after a stopover in Cyprus. She initially stayed with Greek friends in the Keratsini area, roughly 9.5 kilometres west of central Athens, before going missing on 15 July. According to ERTNews, she told her family she planned to stay with American friends afterward, without providing further details.

The phone activity

A central mystery in the case is the activity of Ross's mobile phone after her death. Greek investigators told Reuters that the device continued to send text messages for several days following her disappearance. One police official stated that the messages were "evidently sent to convince people that she was still alive."

The phone was being used. Text messages were sent, evidently to convince people that she was still alive.

According to the Greek outlet Protothema, her father told Scottish authorities he had received messages from someone pretending to be his daughter. Friends were also contacted and told that Ross "needed some time for herself" and "wanted to be alone for a while." The phone stopped transmitting a signal on the day the body was identified, which police believe is no coincidence. The handset itself has not yet been recovered.

The investigation

Greek police are treating the death as a violent crime and are awaiting the results of toxicology tests to determine the precise cause of death. A post-mortem examination has so far revealed no signs of strangulation or fatal head injuries. A police spokesperson told the BBC that until the toxicology results come back, investigators cannot confirm whether the death is officially classified as murder.

We are awaiting the outcome of the toxicology tests to determine the cause of death and ascertain whether foul play was involved.

Investigators are also examining CCTV footage, phone data, and Ross's movements in her final days. Blesk.cz reported that Greek criminal investigators are working with both Interpol and American authorities due to potential international dimensions. A key line of inquiry is the suitcase itself: Greek media note that Ross arrived in Greece without checked luggage, meaning the suitcase in which her body was found did not belong to her. Police hope it may yield forensic traces pointing to the perpetrator.

The search for the American friends

Police are actively trying to trace the American friends or acquaintances Ross had said she intended to meet in Kypseli on 15 July. She had informed her Greek hosts that she was heading to that neighbourhood for precisely that purpose. As of 31 July, these individuals had not been located. Police sources told the BBC that identifying them is a priority. The Guardian's Athens correspondent noted that the friends have not been found, adding to the uncertainty around Ross's final hours.

International coordination

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is providing consular support to Ross's family and is in contact with Greek authorities. British investigators may join the inquiry. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the case as "an absolutely appalling case" and said the Scottish government and the FCDO would support Ross's relatives. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains open as police reconstruct the last hours of the 38-year-old's life.