Developments are moving rapidly in the case of the brutal murder in Kypseli, where on July 18 the body of a 38-year-old British woman was discovered inside a suitcase in an abandoned building. On Sunday (August 2), police authorities managed to identify and arrest the alleged perpetrator — a 26-year-old of Afghan origin who, according to the Hellenic Police (ELAS), confessed to the act.
Read also: Kypseli: 26-year-old Afghan national arrested for the murder of British woman found in suitcase
Kypseli murder: The witness testimony that exposed the killer
The arrest of the 26-year-old came following a crucial witness statement from a friend of the victim, which appears to have provided authorities with the critical lead that cracked the case. According to information available, a few days before the arrest, a woman of British origin approached the police and reported that her partner had confided in her that he had killed the 38-year-old. The 26-year-old allegedly claimed he carried out the killing because he believed the victim was trying to convert his partner to Christianity. The witness statement also revealed that the 38-year-old had visited her friend and the 26-year-old at their home in Keratsini, where the couple resided.
The suspect’s claims and the stolen bank card withdrawals
During his questioning by authorities, the 26-year-old allegedly claimed that he found the woman already dead and that, in order to avoid being implicated, he placed her body in the suitcase. He also reportedly stated that he used the victim’s bank cards to make cash withdrawals.
According to investigative findings, the total amount withdrawn using the victim’s cards amounts to approximately €10,000. During a search of his home, police discovered and seized a replica pistol and a knife, resulting in an additional charge for violation of firearms legislation.
How the identity of the 38-year-old victim was established
The case began on the afternoon of Saturday, July 18, when a homeless individual discovered a suitcase inside an abandoned building in the Kypseli neighborhood. Inside, the body of a woman was found — a discovery that sent shockwaves through the local community. The investigation was taken over by the Crimes Against Life and Personal Freedom Division of the Organized Crime Directorate. Despite the advanced decomposition of the body and the difficult conditions, forensic investigators from the Criminal Investigation Directorate successfully isolated usable fingerprints.
Through Interpol and in cooperation with American authorities, the fingerprints were matched to those of 38-year-old British national Elizabeth Jane Ross. The Interpol office in Washington notified the Hellenic Police that the body belonged to a British woman with the initials E.R., born in February 1988. The woman had arrived in Greece on June 26, 2026, and had been staying at a friend’s residence until July 10, when she left for an unknown destination in the Attica region.
According to ELAS, the 26-year-old allegedly transported the victim’s body inside the suitcase and left it in the abandoned building where it was subsequently found. Authorities also established that in the days that followed, the suspect allegedly used the victim’s bank cards to make a series of cash withdrawals. He has been charged with homicide, robbery, and violation of firearms legislation.
