'Adoptive parents' of Athens 'suitcase killer' insist there were no red flags

An American couple who described themselves as the adoptive parents of Sharif Ahmadzai, an Afghan boxer accused of murdering British aid worker Elisabeth-Jane Ross, insisted there were no warning signs during their time together. The couple, who chose not to be identified, cared for Ahmadzai for nearly two years on the Greek island of Lesvos, where they were working in the Moria refugee camp. They said they never noticed anything unusual about him. Ahmadzai, 26, is currently facing charges of homicide with intent after Ross’s body was discovered inside a suitcase by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli district of Athens on July 18. The couple expressed shock upon learning of the accusations, describing their disbelief that someone they considered a son could be responsible for such an act. According to the Daily Mirror, the couple met Ahmadzai in 2016 when he was living in the Moria camp as a translator for relief organizations. At the time, he was orphaned and seeking refuge in Greece. The couple took him in, treating him as one of their own. They referred to him as “mum and dad,” and he lived with them and their adult sons. One of the women, who identified herself as “his mum,” taught him English and gave him Christmas gifts. The family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2019, after which they lost contact with Ahmadzai. The couple emphasized that they had no indication of any serious problems with him. When asked if there were any red flags, the husband said, “Absolutely not, no. I mean, he had issues like everybody does, but no. There could be some trying times with him, but it was usually more rebellion against authority or just him feeling sorry for himself.” He added that he believed the person he knew as a teenager was not the same individual now standing trial. Ahmadzai appeared in court recently, where his attorney, Christos Erdas, stated that his client had not yet entered a plea regarding the three charges he faces. These include homicide with intent, theft of more than 10,000 euros from Ross’s bank accounts using her credit cards, and illegal weapons possession. Erdas explained that additional medical evidence is required before his client can formally respond to the charges, including confirmation of how Ross died. The defense requested access to Ross’s medical records from the United Kingdom as part of the legal process. The judge ordered Ahmadzai to remain in pre-trial detention until a subsequent court hearing. The proceedings took place at the city’s Evelpidon Street courthouse, close to the abandoned building where Ross’s body was found. Police reported that Ahmadzai was arrested after reviewing surveillance footage near the scene. Investigators allege that after committing the crime, he sent multiple messages from Ross’s phone to her friends and family before turning it off. He reportedly purchased a new phone and sent texts to her contacts in Athens, including his wife, impersonating an unidentified jihadist who claimed responsibility for the murder due to Ross’s religious beliefs. Greek media outlets Proto Thema and Ta Nea reported that Ahmadzai’s wife, Alaina Hall, a U.S. citizen, raised concerns with the police when she realized her husband was missing from their apartment. She woke up around midnight on July 15 and noticed he wasn’t home. By tracking his phone’s location, she discovered he was at an apartment in Ret... The investigation continues as authorities seek to determine the full extent of the circumstances surrounding Ross’s death and whether other individuals might be involved. Legal proceedings are ongoing, with the outcome dependent on the evidence that emerges in the coming weeks.