An American nurse's dream vacation turned to nightmare this week when she was killed by a man she met at a nightclub in Budapest, police revealed Friday.
Kenzie Michalski, 31, from Portland, Oregon, was last seen on November 5, and a manhunt was quickly launched after she disappeared from the city’s vibrant nightlife scene. Budapest police immediately suspected foul play, and security footage soon confirmed Michalski had been seen dancing and moving between clubs with a man, later identified as the primary suspect.
The 37-year-old Irish man, known only by his initials LTM, was arrested and confessed to the murder. He led authorities to Michalski's body, which he had hidden in his rented apartment. LTM claimed the killing was an accident during an intimate encounter, according to police. The two had met at a nightclub, danced, and later went to his apartment.
In an effort to cover up the crime, LTM allegedly cleaned the apartment, placed Michalski’s body in a wardrobe, and then stuffed her into a suitcase. He then rented a car and drove to Lake Balaton, about 90 miles from Budapest, where he dumped the suitcase containing her body in a remote wooded area near the town of Szigliget.
A search of his internet history revealed disturbing details, including searches on how to dispose of a body, police protocols in missing persons cases, and questions about wild boars and whether pigs eat human remains.
The tragic killing came just one day after Michalski had completed a European tour with a friend, marking the end of what was meant to be a relaxing vacation.
* The New York Post contributed to this article.
