American woman Mackenzie Michalski (31) has been murdered by an Irish man. She was on vacation in Budapest, Hungary when the murder occurred.
Mackenzie went by the name Kenzie. She was originally from Western New York and had been living in Oregon before she went to Europe. She had been employed as a nurse practitioner. She had traveled to Europe as part of a birthday trip. Her friend Gretchen Tower traveled with her. She said Budapest in Hungary was the final stop on Kenzie’s vacation.
‘We had a great three days in Hungary. Exploring, eating, walking the city,’ Gretchen said.
The two said their goodbyes on Monday, November 4, 2024. ‘She walked me downstairs out of the Airbnb, we hugged goodbye, we said our I love yous, I went to the airport.’ Gretchen was traveling to Italy to meet with some friends there.
Gretchen and Kenzie communicated via text that day. “She was at a bar in the Jewish ruin district having a glass of wine,” said Gretchen “It looked like she was having dinner.”
Kenzie’s father Bill said she had been to Budapest before and that she loved the city.
She called it “happy place,” per the AP.
“The history, she just loved it and she was just so relaxed here,” he said. “This was her city.”
Gretchen sent Kenzie a message at 12.45am on Tuesday November 5. Kenzie never responded.
Gretchen then got messages from the AirBNB where they had been staying, saying Kenzie had never checked out.
“This is completely uncharacteristic of her, she would never do this, I don’t know what’s going on,” Gretchen said.
Gretchen reported Kenzie missing later that day.
Kenzie’s brother made this post on social media:
My sister is missing after not returning to her AirBnB in Budapest, Hungary. Please share, especially if you know anyone in Hungary who may be able to help look for her. She is an experienced international traveler, so this is setting off every alarm bell. We need her back.
Mackenzie Elizabeth Michalski (Goes by Kenzie)
Age: 31
DOB: 1/18/1993
Height: 5 foot, 5 inches (65 inches, 165 cm)
Weight: 100 lbs (45kg)
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Brown
Last seen: November 4th 2024 at 10pm (Hungarian time) at Barack et Szilva Etterem in Jewish Quarter, Budapest at 10pm.
Friends received photos from Szimpla Kert shortly after.
Description:
Clothing: Black hoodie zip up, black sneakers or brown ankle sorrel boots; possible black or green hat
Distinguishing features: Gauged ear lobes. Tattoos: Skull on Left arm, Buddha on her Left foot, Lotus flower pattern on her Right foot, and has other tattoos. Last seen wearing necklace in first picture–silver teardrop necklace with flower-shaped pendant on top.
If you have any information, please contact the local Hungarian Police: +36-1 461-8100 or +36-1-443-5000 and the United States Embassy in Budapest: +36-1-475-4400.
Thank you for anything you can do to help!
As some info about Hungary, it is generally a very safe country.
Hungary is one of the world’s most peaceful and safest countries. In fact, it has risen further to becoming the 13th most peaceful nation among 163 countries based on the newest Global Peace Index.
Budapest Police launched an investigation and obtained surveillance video of Kenzie dancing with a man at several nightclubs before heading to his rented apartment.
Police detained the man on November 7 and questioned him about Kenzie’s disappearance. At this time, Kenzie’s parents were enroute to Hungary to help search for her. It was then that the man confessed to Kenzie’s murder.
The suspect is an unnamed Irishman. He said he killed Kenzie while they were engaged in an “intimate encounter,” police said.
The suspect, whom police identified by the initials L.T.M., confessed to the killing, but said it had been an accident. Police said that he had attempted to cover up his crime by cleaning the apartment and hiding Kenzie’s body in a wardrobe before purchasing a suitcase and placing her body inside.
He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, around 90 miles (150 kilometers) southwest of Budapest, where he disposed of her body in the woods outside the town of Szigliget.
Police have released some photos of the evidence found, including Kenzie’s wallet and credit card, as well as a hair tie. They also released a photo of cleaning products used by the suspect (see above).
Police have also released information about google searches conducted by the suspect:
- “Do pigs really eat dead bodies?”
- “Texas woman killed by a wild boar.”
- “Wild boar sighting in Lake Balaton coastal towns.”
- “What does a corpse smell like after it decomposes?”
- “Getting rid of the smell of rotting meat.”
- “Budapest webcams.”
- “What happens after a person is reported missing?”
- “How do the police handle missing person cases?”
- “How reliable is the police in Budapest?”
Kenzie’s father Bill has said “There was no reason for this to happen,” he said. “I’m still trying to wrap my arms around what happened … I don’t know that I ever will.”
SOURCE LIST
https://people.com/father-of-nurse-31-murdered-during-hungary-vacation-speaks-out-8742852
https://bounce.com/guides/budapest/is-budapest-safe-to-visit
Show us the “Irish citizen.”