An Irishman has been arrested in relation to the murder of a 31-year-old tourist from New York, Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski. She was last seen in a nightclub in the capital city of Hungary, Budapest, on Tuesday. The suspected, identified as an Irish native, was seen with her at several nightclubs that evening.
US media reports that the 37-year-old Irishman has confessed to the killing. They have also reported that led the police to where he disposed of the body. The US State Department and US Embassy are liaising with Hungarian police.
Extra.ie report that Kenzie's body was hidden in a wardrobe while the suspect went out to buy a suitcase. He then placed her body in the suitcase and left her in the Lake Balaton woods in an area outside Szigliget village.
Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! Detectives also said they found numerous alleged incriminating online searches on a computer including "do pigs really eat dead bodies?" and, "Texas woman killed by a wild boar", according to investigators. Michalski's family and friends released a statement on Friday. They said they were "deeply saddened to confirm a report published by Hungarian police announcing the death of our beloved Kenzie".
"Kenzie will forever be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated herself to caring for others and making the world a better place," the statement said. "As a nurse practitioner, Kenzie used her humor, positivity, and limitle.