31-year-old American tourist killed, her body thrown in the woods in Hungary: suspect arrested

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Hungarian justice announced Monday November 11, 2024 that it had ordered the detention of an Irish suspect after the discovery in a forest of the body of a 31-year-old American tourist, killed in Budapest and transported in a suitcase.

Mackenzie Elizabeth Michalski, a nurse from the state of Oregon, disappeared Tuesday evening after being seen in the party district of the capital. Alerted by his relatives, investigators were put on the trail of his alleged murderer by analyzing video surveillance cameras.

Arrested Thursday, the 37-year-old man confessed to the crime while ensuring that it was an accident, according to the police. “At present, it is not possible to establish the cause of death,” the Budapest court said in a statement.

Killed “during intimate relations”

According to the first elements, the suspect met the victim in a nightclub before taking her to his apartment where he killed her “during intimate relations”.

He then placed her body in a suitcase and drove towards Lake Balaton, just over two hours from the capital, where he hid her body “in the woods”.

Investigators found traces of internet searches carried out after the crime on the decomposition of the bodies, the presence of wild boars in the area and the level of competence of the local police.

This Irish resident, who arrived in Budapest at the end of October, has no criminal record in the central European country.

Parents learned of his death on the way

Contacted by l'AFP, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said it was “aware of the matter and is providing consular assistance”, without making further comments.

Hearing the news of her disappearance, the young woman's parents had taken a plane to Budapest, hoping to bring her home, but learned of her death on the way. They attended a vigil in her memory Saturday near the U.S. Embassy, ​​thanking all those who had mobilized to find their daughter.

More than 40,000 dollars (37,000 euros), collected to carry out search operations, will be used to cover funeral and travel costs.

With AFP

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