• 

• News
• World news
• Greece

Police are trying to trace a group of mystery Americans after Brit Elisabeth-Jane Ross reportedly left pals to stay with them before her body was found inside a suitcase in Athens.

A British woman whose body was found stuffed inside a suitcase in Athens had reportedly told friends she was going to spend time with a group of mystery Americans before her death.

Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was discovered by a homeless man after he spotted a leg sticking out of a suitcase in a derelict building on Evelpidon Street in Athens' Kypseli neighbourhood at around 1pm on July 18.

She had been staying with Greek friends in the Keratsini district, near Athens' main port, before telling them on July 15 that she was leaving to stay with Americans she knew in Kypseli, according to the Daily Mail.

A police source told the Mail: "She told the Greek friends she was staying with that she was going to spend some time with American friends in Kypseli but did not provide any more details.

"We have interviewed her Greek friends and there is nothing to incriminate them. They provided important information."

Detectives are also investigating whether someone sent messages from Ms Ross's phone after her death in a bid to make it appear she was still alive. One message sent to a Greek friend on July 15 reportedly read: "I need some time – I'm going to a Greek island."

Her family also received messages claiming she "needed some time to herself" and "wanted to be alone for a while". Investigators believe the missing phone remained active in the Athens area until shortly before Ms Ross was formally identified, before it was switched off.

Ms Ross, born in Scotland in February 1988, is believed to have died between five and seven days before her body was found. She is thought to have travelled to Greece from Cyprus last month, according to Greek public broadcaster ERT.

She was identified through Interpol and US databases using her fingerprints after her DNA did not match any records held in Greece, according to Greek news outlet Proto Thema. An initial forensic examination found no obvious injuries or signs of a struggle, although a post-mortem examination is expected to establish how she died.

A Police Scotland spokesperson previously 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."

A Foreign Office spokesperson added: "Our thoughts are with Elisabeth's family during this difficult time. We are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities."

Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.