Greek police are investigating whether the body of a woman found inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in the Athens neighborhood of Kypseli could belong to Yu Ting, a Chinese translator and real estate agent who disappeared from Artemida on May 20.
The missing woman’s husband told Star television that police had informed him of the possible connection, although the victim has not yet been formally identified.
“It could be her,” he said, while expressing hope that his fears would not be confirmed.
Some physical characteristics appear to match. Yu Ting is approximately 1.60 meters tall and has black hair, while the woman found in the suitcase was described by forensic investigators as petite, approximately 1.61 meters tall, with dark hair.
However, the clothing found on the body differed from what Yu Ting was believed to have been wearing when she disappeared.
There is also a difference in the estimated age- the missing Chinese woman is 50 and the body is estimated to be a 30-year-old woman.
Police have collected personal items belonging to the missing woman for DNA comparison.
Body Concealed Inside Garment Bag and Suitcase
The body was discovered on Saturday afternoon inside an abandoned building near Evelpidon Street in Kypseli.
According to initial reports, the woman had been wrapped in a black fabric garment bag, placed inside another bag and then sealed inside a dark blue suitcase. Police believe the way the body was packed indicates an attempt to conceal it.
The suitcase was found by a homeless man who followed a strong odor inside the building and alerted the authorities.
The body was already in an advanced state of decomposition, a process believed to have been accelerated by the high temperatures. Initial estimates suggest that the woman died between five and seven days before she was found.
Cause of Death Remains Unknown
The initial forensic examination found no obvious external injuries and no visible wounds from a firearm or sharp object.
However, the advanced decomposition has made it difficult for forensic pathologists to establish the exact cause of death.
Toxicology and histology tests are still underway.
One finding indicated that the woman had eaten her last meal approximately 45 to 50 minutes before her death.
Investigators Search Missing-Person Files
The Hellenic Police Homicide Division is reviewing files of missing women from across Greece as it works to establish the victim’s identity.
Yu Ting’s case is among those being examined, but police have not ruled out other possibilities, including the disappearance of a younger woman from outside Athens.
The victim’s fingerprints were checked against police databases but did not match any registered individual, further complicating the identification process.
Investigators are therefore relying heavily on DNA analysis, missing-person reports and other physical evidence.
Clothing May Offer Additional Clues
The woman was wearing a black short-sleeved T-shirt and black shorts made by a French company. The shorts reportedly carried the logo of a well-known hotel in France.
Her hair was tied in a bun, and her foot measured approximately 22 centimeters.
Authorities are examining whether the clothing or hotel logo could help trace her movements or establish connections abroad.
Security Footage Under Review
Police are also analyzing security camera footage from the area around Evelpidon Street.
Their aim is to identify the vehicle and the individuals who transported and abandoned the suitcase at the building.
Investigators are also trying to determine whether the woman was already dead when she was brought to the property or whether she died inside the building.
The review is expected to be lengthy because officers must examine footage from multiple cameras across the surrounding area.
For now, the central question remains unanswered: whether the body belongs to Yu Ting or to another missing woman.
Definitive conclusions are expected from the laboratory comparison of DNA samples and the remaining forensic tests.
