GREEK police are fast-tracking toxicology tests to establish the cause of death of a Scottish woman whose body was found in a suitcase in Athens.
Toxicology tests are being carried out to establish whether “foul play” was involved in the death of Elisabeth-Jane Ross, with the authorities confirming the results should be “coming days”.
The 38-year-old’s body was discovered by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of Athens on July 18.
She is believed to have died between five and seven days before she was found.
Known to her family as Lisa, it is thought she travelled to Greece from Edinburgh on June 29, and went missing on July 15.
She initially stayed with friends in the town of Keratsini, in the suburbs of Athens, before meeting American friends in Kypseli.
It has been reported that Greek police believe her phone was used to send messages after her death, in an apparent attempt to put people looking for her off the scent.
Ross is understood to be from the Edinburgh area.
Greek police are trying to establish whether Ross’s death was the result of a “criminal act”, with a police spokesperson confirming toxicology tests are being carried out.
The spokesperson added there was no evidence on either the body or the suitcase that would enable them to identify a third party.
According to local reports, police are also trying to trace where her phone had been in the days following her death.
It has been reported that the identity of the body could not be established at first because it did not have any signs of identification.
Greek police authorities later identified it after Interpol examined fingerprint data and matched it to records in the USA, where Ross had previously worked.
A spokesperson 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.”
However, on Saturday a police spokesperson, Konstantina Dimoglidou, told BBC Scotland News: “We have made it a priority so we can have results in the coming days.
“Then we will know how she died. This can't wait.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth 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 spokesperson 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.”
