A 31-year-old American tourist, Mackenzie Michalski, vacationing in Budapest, Hungary, was found dead after being reported missing for several days. Authorities announced on Friday that a suspect has been arrested in connection with her murder after confessing to the killing.
Michalski, from Portland, Oregon, was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest on November 5. Security footage showed her with the suspect, a 37-year-old Irish citizen identified as LTM, at multiple locations.
The suspect, arrested on November 7, confessed to killing Michalski in his rented apartment after they met at the nightclub. He said that the death occurred during an “intimate encounter” and was accidental.
After the murder, the suspect attempted to conceal the body in a wardrobe, cleaned the apartment, and used a suitcase to transport the body to Lake Balaton, where he disposed of it. Police later discovered that he had researched body disposal methods and police procedures for missing person cases.
Michalski’s parents, who had traveled to Hungary to assist in the search, were devastated to learn of her death upon arrival. At a candlelight vigil, her father, Bill Michalski, expressed his grief, saying, “There was no reason for this to happen… I’m still trying to wrap my arms around what happened … I don’t know that I ever will.”
