Greek police have arrested an Afghan national in connection with the death of a Scottish aid worker.

Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, was arrested after the body of Elizabeth-Jane Ross, 38, was found stuffed in a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens. A homeless man made the grisly discovery after investigating a foul odor emanating from the building.

Ross, known to friends as Lisa, had been volunteering at a refugee support group in Athens. She had arrived in Greece on June 26 and had been staying in an apartment in the Keratsini area of Piraeus until July 10. She was known to Ahmadzai, who had keys to her apartment, and his American wife.

The suspect had taken her cell phone and continued to send messages to family saying she needed time to herself and wished to be left alone in an apparent bid to buy time. Forensics experts were unable to immediately determine the cause of death due to the advanced decomposition of the body but are fast-tracking toxicology tests as well as tests on organ tissue to that end.

Ahmadzai admitted to transporting the body in a suitcase but claimed that he had found her dead in the bathroom of her apartment. Since her death, he had been using her bank card to withdraw money from her account. Police said he had given his wife €2,550 in cash and a new iPhone 17 Pro, which she handed over to police. Upon searching his home, police found a replica pistol and knife.

CCTV footage shows the suspect wheeling a suitcase down a street in Athens, carrying a blue bag. The suitcase and blue bag were found with the victim.

The Afghan national, who converted to Christianity in 2017, was arrested on Aug. 2 and charged with murder, robbery and violation of weapons laws the following day.

Ross’ pastor posted about the victim on Facebook.

“She had been to many places and served people. She was a very precious girl and it is a tragic loss,” he wrote.

“We have lost an angel, an angel full of innocence and goodness who only wanted to help people wherever she went,” a friend from her hometown in Edinburgh said.

Scottish police said they are coordinating with Greek police while providing support to the victim’s family in Scotland.