Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski.Facebook
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.
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 limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike."
Kenzie was heard from on Tuesday when she spoke with friends about her visit to Budapest. She failed to answer calls on Wednesday. Friends began to spread the word on social media that they could not contact her.
The nurse practitioner lived in Portland, Oregon. She had been traveling with friends through Europe and spent three days in Hungary. She was spending one last day in Budapest before she planned to fly home on Tuesday.
When she failed to get her flight or check out of her AirBnB her friends became alarmed.
A vigil was held for Ms Michalski on Saturday night at Barker Commons in Fredonia, New York.