ATHENS — Greek police arrested 26-year-old Afghan national Sharif Ahmadzai in connection with the death of Scottish charity worker Elisabeth-Jane Ross. Authorities opened a criminal file against Ahmadzai for intentional homicide, robbery, and violation of weapons laws.

Elisabeth-Jane Ross, a 38-year-old Scottish charity worker, was found dead inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in the Kypseli district of Athens on 18 July. A homeless man discovered the suitcase containing Ross's body in a derelict building on Evelpidon Street in Kypseli.

Ahmadzai confessed to placing Ross's body in the suitcase and transporting it to the abandoned building. He denied committing murder, claiming he discovered Ross's body already dead in an apartment in Exarchia.

CCTV footage showed Ahmadzai dragging a suitcase on the night of 16 July. Police found a replica pistol and a knife at Ahmadzai's home during their investigation.

Ahmadzai used Ross's credit cards to withdraw approximately €10,000 from ATMs. He allegedly attempted to give his wife €2550 in cash along with a new Apple iPhone 17 Pro, which she handed over to police. That is a fall from €10,000 to €2,550 — 74.5%.

Ross's mobile phone was used to send text messages to her family and friends after her death. Police described the text messages sent from Ross's phone as deliberately misleading to delay her being declared missing.

Ross arrived in Greece on 26 June and stayed with friends in Keratsini until 10 July. She moved to an apartment in the Exarchia district of Athens on 10 July. Ross is believed to have died between five and eight days before her body was found.

An initial postmortem examination showed no evident signs of injury or struggle on Ross's body but was inconclusive due to advanced decomposition. Forensic scientists believe Ross was likely asphyxiated. Authorities have fast-tracked toxicological tests and analysis of vital organ tissues to determine the cause of death.

Ross was identified using fingerprints matched with biometric data provided by U.S. authorities and Interpol. Greek authorities worked with the UK’s National Crime Agency and Police Scotland during the investigation.

Ahmadzai and Ross knew each other through their non-governmental organisation named Love Every Nation Athens. Ross had strong links with the charity sector in Greece and had worked with homeless people. She was the daughter of a prominent lawyer in Edinburgh.

Ahmadzai is a professional boxer who arrived in Greece as a refugee via Lesbos in 2016. According to reports, Ahmadzai fled Afghanistan at age 15 after his family was killed by the Taliban, arriving in Lesbos on a small boat in 2016. Ahmadzai fought twice as a professional boxer in Athens, competing in the Super Light division, losing his debut in June 2025 and winning his second in March 2026 to take the vacant national title.

Ahmadzai married American citizen Alaina Hall in 2023. Alaina Hall reported suspicious behavior and cash withdrawals by Ahmadzai to the police. Sharif Ahmadzai is researcher.

First Minister John Swinney called it an 'absolutely appalling case' and said her family would be supported by the Scottish government and the FCDO. The case involves international cooperation between Greek authorities and UK law enforcement agencies, showing the cross-border nature of the investigation.

Greece is located in Europe & Central Asia and is classified by the World Bank as a high income economy. Kypseli is neighborhood in Athens, Attica, Greece. The arrest and subsequent charges reflect the ongoing efforts by local and international authorities to address violent crime and ensure justice for victims.

Why It Matters

The case shows the complexities of international law enforcement cooperation, requiring coordination between Greek authorities, the UK's National Crime Agency, and Interpol to identify the victim and pursue charges. The suspect's alleged use of the deceased's phone to send misleading messages demonstrates how digital tools can delay missing person declarations and complicate homicide investigations. Fast-tracked forensic analysis remains critical to establishing the cause of death, as initial examinations were inconclusive due to advanced decomposition.