Greek investigators probing the killing of British national Elisabeth-Jane Ross are questioning whether the 38-year-old fabricated plans to meet a group of American friends before she disappeared.
The new line of inquiry has emerged after extensive efforts to locate the individuals she reportedly intended to visit failed to produce any evidence that they exist.
According to investigators, Ross informed friends she was leaving to spend time with people from the United States, but detectives have so far been unable to identify or interview anyone matching that description, adding another layer of mystery to the homicide investigation.
Last Confirmed Movements Before Her Disappearance
Ross, a Scottish national, had been staying with acquaintances in the Keratsini district, near the Port of Piraeus, until July 15.
Before leaving, she reportedly told them she was heading to Kypseli, a neighborhood in central Athens, where she planned to meet the American friends.
Three days later, on July 18, her body was discovered inside a suitcase abandoned in a derelict building, prompting a major murder investigation by Greek authorities.
Police have also interviewed several other friends Ross met during her time in Athens.
Investigators say none of those individuals are currently considered suspects.
Investigators Explore Whether She Intentionally Misled Friends
Authorities are now examining the possibility that Ross deliberately concealed her actual destination by telling friends she was meeting Americans.
Investigators believe she may have wanted to leave without revealing who she was really planning to see.
Sources close to the investigation say detectives cannot yet determine whether the alleged American contacts ever existed or whether the story was created to protect her privacy before she disappeared.
Mobile Phone Activity Raises Fresh Questions
Another significant focus of the investigation is Ross’s missing mobile phone, which police believe remained in use long after her death.
Her father, an Edinburgh-based lawyer, reportedly told investigators he continued receiving text messages from his daughter’s phone until July 29, the day authorities publicly confirmed her identity.
Detectives suspect whoever killed Ross may have used the device in an attempt to delay suspicion and obscure the timeline of her death.
One message reportedly sent on July 15 to a Greek friend claimed she was taking time for herself and intended to travel to a Greek island.
Similar messages sent to relatives suggested she wanted to be alone for a period.
Missing Phone Could Hold Critical Evidence
Investigators say Ross’s phone remained active in Athens until it was finally switched off on Wednesday, although the device itself has not yet been recovered.
The continued activity has become a crucial piece of evidence, as police work to reconstruct her final movements and determine who may have had possession of the phone after her death.
Authorities also admit they still do not know who Ross met after leaving Keratsini or where she stayed during the final days of her life.
Forensic Tests Accelerated as Murder Inquiry Continues
Greek police have confirmed that the couple who hosted Ross in Keratsini are cooperating fully with investigators and are not considered suspects.
Meanwhile, forensic specialists are expediting toxicology examinations to establish the precise cause of Ross’s death.
Investigators hope the scientific findings, combined with digital evidence and witness interviews, will help clarify the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Police continue to appeal for information as they seek to identify the people Ross met after leaving Keratsini and determine whether the mysterious “American friends” were real or part of a story intended to conceal her true plans.
