31-Year-Old American Tourist Murdered in Budapest, Suspect in Custody

BUDAPEST: A 31-year-old American tourist was found dead while vacationing in Budapest, Hungary's capital. The victim, identified as Mackenzie Michalski from Portland, Oregon, had been reported missing for several days. According to reports, a 37-year-old, suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing.Michalski was reportedly last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest. Police launched a missing person investigation, reviewing security footage from local nightclubs where Michalski was seen with a man, later identified as the suspect, at several venues the night of her disappearance.The suspect, an Irish citizen identified by the initials L.T.M., was detained on the evening of Nov. 7 and confessed to the crime during questioning. Investigators stated that Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving together for the man’s rented apartment. According to police, the man killed Michalski during an "intimate encounter" and attempted to cover up the crime by cleaning the apartment and hiding her body in a wardrobe. He later bought a suitcase, placed her body inside, rented a car, and drove around 90 miles (150 kilometers) to Lake Balaton, where he disposed of the body in a wooded area near the town of Szigliget.Police noted that the suspect had conducted internet searches on topics such as body disposal, police procedures for missing persons, whether pigs eat dead bodies, and the presence of wild boars in the Lake Balaton area. Crime scene photographs released by police showed a rolling suitcase, various articles of clothing including a pair of fleece-lined boots, and a small handbag beside a credit card bearing Michalski’s name.Prior to the confession, Michalski's family and friends had launched a search effort, starting a Facebook group to gather information on her whereabouts. Her parents traveled to Hungary to assist with the search but learned of her death while en route.At a candlelight vigil in Budapest on Saturday night, Michalski’s father, Bill Michalski, expressed his grief, telling The Associated Press he was “still overcome with emotion” at his daughter’s death.In a post on the Facebook group “Find Mackenzie Michalski,” an administrator shared that Michalski, who went by “Kenzie,” was a nurse practitioner who “will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman.” Michalski had previously visited Budapest and called it her "happy place," her father told the AP.“She loved the history and felt so relaxed here,” he said. “This was her city.”(Inputs from AP)

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31-Year-Old American Tourist Murdered in Budapest, Suspect in Custody

An American tourist was killed while on vacation in Hungary’s capital mourned while a 37-year-old suspect is in custody.

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