Cops hunt homeless knifeman who ‘tried to rape woman’ after body of Brit was found stuffed in suitcase

GREEK cops are searching for a heavily-tattooed homeless man in connection with the murder of a Brit who was found stuffed in a suitcase. The suspect, named Markos, is reportedly a volatile drug user and heavy drinker who allegedly tried to rape a woman at knifepoint last year. Elisabeth Ross, 38, was in an area of Athens known for homelessness before she was found dead Credit: Unknown Cops are searching for a heavily-tattooed homeless suspect who lived in the derelict building where her body was found Credit: Eurokinissi He also lived in the derelict building where Elisabeth Ross, 38, was found murdered. Markos has not been seen since the suitcase was discovered, with detectives combing the city for his whereabouts. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! People in the Kypseli district where the crime happened say it is well-known that Markos tried to rape a Bulgarian woman at knifepoint as she walked through an abandoned car park last year. Hamid Reza, a homeless man who lives in a makeshift shelter close to where Elisabeth’s grim discovery was made, said police told him that Markos is their number one suspect. Elisabeth was described as a ‘beautiful’ and ‘loving’ woman Credit: Facebook/@Joanne Noble The Iranian, 67, told the Daily Mail: “They want to find and question him very quickly. “They have been asking a lot of people and driving around the area looking for him. “Everybody knows that Markos carries a knife, and local women are scared of him. “He was always around this area, even living in the car park, but nobody has seen him since the body was discovered.” Most read in The Sun Police remove Elisabeth’s body from the scene Credit: Eurokinissi She had reportedly been visiting Greece for a number of years Credit: Facebook Markos has been described as around 40 years old and heavily covered in tattoos. He has reportedly lived in the building for months and has made an improvised “living room” there. A Greek police source said: “We have a lead on a homeless man but can’t say any more. “We want to question a particular individual, but we are also looking for a number of other people as part of this investigation.” It has meanwhile been claimed that Elisabeth was a committed Christian who may have been in the area known for homelessness for compassionate reasons. She had reportedly been visiting Greece for over seven years and worked with a number of NGOs that supported vulnerable people. Elisabeth had arrived in Greece in late June and was staying with a Greek couple until July 15. She told them she was going to meet some American friends in the Kypseli district. But she may have deliberately misled friends because she did not want them to worry about her whereabouts. Elisabeth’s body was found in a suitcase at the building on Evelpidon Street by another homeless man on July 18. Her phone remained active until the day in Athens she was publicly identified on July 29. Cops say a mystery user – believed to be the murder suspect – was texting friends and families to create the impression that she was alive. They have not yet been able to locate the phone. One text, sent to a Greek friend on July 15, read: “I need some time – I’m going to a Greek island.” Other family members confirmed they had received similar texts in which she claimed she wanted to be alone and needed time to herself. Cops are also trying to trace how Lisa’s body ended up in the building, believing the killer may have taken her there on foot. The homeless man who made the grim discovery has insisted that the suitcase was not in the building the two days prior. Officers have been combing the area for security cameras that might have captured the suitcase dump. Local hotels and residences are also being examined, with police speculating that the body was likely taken to the building from close quarters. And Greek authorities are fast forwarding crucial tests that could determine the cause of the Briton’s death, the Sun has learned. Police spokesperson Konstantina Dimoglidou said: “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.” Tests on blood, urine and vital organ tissues will be key to determining whether Elisabeth died as a result of foul play. Police have also not ruled out alcohol or drugs playing a role. But they revealed that whoever stuffed her in the suitcase had been “careful”, adding: “There were no fingerprints or traces of DNA on the suitcase. Whoever did it was careful.” Comment now