Heartbroken family of British woman found dead in suitcase pay tribute to 'loving' daughter

The heartbroken family of a British woman whose body was found inside a suitcase in Athens have paid tribute to their "beautiful, loving and kind" daughter.

Elisabeth Jane Ross, 38, from Scotland, was discovered inside luggage in the Kypseli district of the Greek capital on July 18 after a homeless man spotted what he believed to be "a human limb" protruding from the suitcase and alerted police.

Investigators believe Ms Ross had been dead for between five and seven days before her body was discovered.

Her aunt, Anne Bangham, said the family were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

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"It is horrific. We just can't believe it. She was such a beautiful, loving and kind young lady," she wrote.

"I wish I could get my hands on whoever did it."

Ms Bangham said her niece had only recently arrived in Greece for work, adding that the reality of what had happened would "take a while to sink in".

"She had not long arrived there to work. We can't believe this has happened," she wrote.

Ms Ross travelled from the US to Athens via Edinburgh on June 29, where she had planned to stay with friends.

Earlier reports suggesting she had travelled through Cyprus were later corrected.

She initially stayed with acquaintances in Keratsini, a suburb of Athens, before reportedly meeting American friends in Kypseli on July 15, just days before her body was found.

Greek police believe her killer used Ms Ross's mobile phone after her death to send deceptive messages in an apparent attempt to delay the discovery of the crime.

One message, sent to a Greek male friend she had known "for years", read: "I need some time - I'm going to a Greek island."

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Separate messages sent to her family claimed she "needed some time to herself" and "wanted to be alone for a while".

Her father, an Edinburgh-based lawyer, told investigators he received messages from her phone between July 15 and July 29.

The device has not been recovered, but investigators said it remained active in the Athens area until Ms Ross was formally identified.

They believe it was switched off shortly after international media began reporting her death.

Toxicology tests are under way to establish Ms Ross's cause of death as detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding her killing.

A spokesman for Greek police said: "No other evidence has emerged from the body or the suitcase that would allow us to identify another person.

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

"The investigation is ongoing."

The Foreign 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 spokesman 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."

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