Crime & Law

Irish man ‘confessed’ to killing American woman in Hungary, police say

Mackenzie Michalski (31) was on holiday in Budapest and was last seen at a nightclub in the city before friends reported her as missing

Mackenzie Michalski, who is originally from New York, had travelled from Portland, Oregon in the US.
Mackenzie Michalski, who is originally from New York, had travelled from Portland, Oregon in the US.
Sarah Slater
Sun Nov 10 2024 - 16:59

An Irish man has been arrested in connection with the death of an American woman who was on holiday in Hungary.

Mackenzie Michalski (31) was reported missing by friends on November 5th after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest.

Originally from New York, she had travelled from Portland, Oregon in the US, and was last seen near Szimpla Kert, known as the party district in the city.

Police launched an investigation and reviewed security footage from local nightclubs where they observed her with a man later identified as the suspect on the night of her disappearance.

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Police said they detained the man, an Irish citizen, on the evening of November 7th.

Investigators said Ms Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving for the man’s rented apartment.

The suspect allegedly confessed to the killing at the apartment but said it had been an accident.

Police said he attempted to cover up his crime by cleaning the apartment and concealing Ms Michalski’s body before purchasing a suitcase and placing her body inside.

He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, about 90 miles southwest of Budapest, where he is said to have disposed of the body in a wooded area outside the town of Szigliget.

Video released by police showed the suspect guiding authorities to the location where he had left the body.

Ms Michalski’s parents were currently in Budapest, police added.

Ms Michalski, who was known as Kenzie, worked as a neurosurgery nurse practitioner at Providence St Vincent Medical Center in Oregon.

At a candlelight vigil in Budapest on Saturday night, the victim’s father, Bill Michalski, told the Associated Press he was “still overcome with emotion” at the death of his daughter.

“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.”

A vigil was held in Budapest on Saturday night for American tourist Mackenzie Michalski (31). Photograph: Bela Szandelszky/AP
A vigil was held in Budapest on Saturday night for American tourist Mackenzie Michalski (31). Photograph: Bela Szandelszky/AP

Ms Michalski had visited Budapest before, and her father called it her “happy place”.

“The history, she just loved it and she was just so relaxed here,” he added. “This was her city.”

Regarding the man arrested, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of the case and was “providing consular assistance”, as was normal for Irish citizens overseas.

In a statement, it added: “As with all cases, the department does not comment on the specific details of individual cases.” – Additional reporting AP