American nurse killed in Hungary, Irish suspect arrested after alleged attempt to conceal body

A 37-year-old Irish man was arrested in Hungary in connection with the murder of Mackenzie Michalski, a 31-year-old American nurse from Portland, Oregon, Hungarian police announced on Saturday. Michalski, who had been vacationing in Budapest, was reported missing on November 5 after a night out in the city.

Authorities identified the suspect, who police referred to by the initials L.T.M., through security footage from a local nightclub, which showed Michalski and the man interacting before heading to his rented apartment. Officials stated that the suspect later confessed to the killing, claiming it was accidental, but attempted to cover it up by concealing Michalski’s body.

According to police, Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub in Budapest, where they were seen dancing together before moving to the suspect’s apartment. Officers reported that she was killed during an "intimate encounter," though further details were not provided.

To hide Michalski’s body, police said the suspect placed it in a wardrobe while cleaning his apartment to remove evidence of the incident. He then purchased a suitcase, placed her body inside, and rented a car to transport it to a wooded area near the village of Szigliget, about 90 miles from Budapest. In a video released by police, the suspect, in handcuffs, is seen leading investigators to the location where he had hidden Michalski’s body, with sniffer dogs and forensic specialists aiding in the search.

The suspect reportedly made a series of online searches following the killing, including phrases like, “what does a dead body smell like after it decomposes?” and “how do the police handle missing person cases?” Police also reported he searched whether pigs eat dead bodies and researched wild boar populations near Lake Balaton, a body of water close to where he had disposed of Michalski’s body. He also allegedly searched about the competence of Budapest police.

A Facebook group titled “Find Mackenzie Michalski,” created on November 7, confirmed Michalski’s death in a post, expressing gratitude for the "prompt attention, diligence, care, and consideration" of US and Hungarian authorities. A vigil was held near the US Embassy in Budapest on Saturday to honour Michalski, who was described by friends as a nurse practitioner known for her “humor, positivity, and limitless empathy.”

Michalski’s parents have reportedly traveled to Hungary following the news. Hungarian police have remanded the suspect in custody as investigations continue.