Police believe Irish man killed American tourist, put her in suitcase and dumped her in woodland outside Budapest
The man, according to police, was arrested outside an apartment complex in Budapest on Thursday November 7
Police investigating the death of American tourist, Mackenzie Michalski, believe an Irish man killed the 31 year-old American tourist, put her body into a suitcase and dumped it in woodland outside Budapest.
In a new statement, Hungarian police said the 37 year-old Irish man arrested on suspicion of murder admitted to killing Ms. Michalski but claimed it was an accident.
The man, according to police, was arrested outside an apartment complex in Budapest on Thursday November 7.
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The new statement published on the official website of the Hungarian police reads: "At a nightclub, she (Mackenzie Michalski) met an Irish man a few years older than her, with whom she went to another nightclub, danced there, got closer, and then the girl decided to go to the man's rented apartment in the district, where they had an intimate relationship."
Hungarian police allege that after the death of Ms. Michalski, the man put her body inside a suitcase, then rented a car and allegedly attempted to conceal her remains in woodland outside Budapest.
"He then put the girl's body in the suitcase, then rented a car and set off towards Lake Balaton with the suitcase in the trunk.
"He hid his victim in a wooded area on the outskirts of Szigliget, then drove back to Budapest, where he was arrested," said police.
Detectives leading the murder investigation said the Irish man "admitted that he killed the woman" but claimed that it was an accident. Detectives added that the 37 year-old suspect took detectives to where he had left the suitcase containing the Ms. Michalski's remains.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told The Irish Mirror: "The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance. As with all cases, the Department does not comment on the specific details of individual cases."
According to reports by Hungarian media outlets, Ms. Michalski's friends raised the alarm when she failed to return to the Airbnb apartment she was staying in on November 5. Ms. Michalski also missed a flight she had booked from Hungary to Amsterdam.
Friends of Ms. Michalski set-up a GoFundMe fundraising page on Friday. The 'Bring Mackenzie Michalski Home' page has so far raised €36,000 ($38,500).
Ms. Michalski graduated from High School in Fredonia, New York. A candlelit vigil took place there on Saturday evening.
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