Western New York resident traveling through Hungary found dead, man arrested for murder

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) – Budapest police have released new details after a Western New York resident who went missing while traveling in Hungary was murdered.

Family and friends of 31-year-old Mackenzie Michalski reported her missing at the US Embassy on Tuesday.

Budapest police launched an investigation and obtained surveillance footage of Michalski dancing with a man in several nightclubs before going to his rented apartment.

A 37-year-old Irish man with the initials LTM was arrested at the apartment on Wednesday. Police say he confessed to killing Michalski and led officers to her body.

Investigation revealed that LTM killed Michalski while the two were intimate, but told police it was an accident. He allegedly hid her body in his closet while he went to buy a suitcase, then put her body in the suitcase and left her in the woods near Lake Balaton, in an area outside Szigliget.

The investigation also showed that LTM searched online for:

“Do pigs really eat dead bodies?”
“Texas woman killed by wild boar.”
“Spotting wild boars in coastal towns on Lake Balaton.”
“What does a corpse smell like after it has decomposed?”
“Getting rid of the smell of rotting meat.”
“Budapest webcams.”
“What happens after a person is reported missing?”
“How do the police deal with missing persons?”
“How reliable are the police in Budapest?”

LTM was taken into custody. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to 7 News that it was aware of reports that Hungarian police have arrested a suspect in connection with the disappearance and that the US Embassy is in contact with Hungarian police.
A vigil for Michalski will be held Saturday at Barker Commons in Fredonia. Organizers encourage people to bring candles.

On behalf of Michalski’s loved ones, the following statement was released:

“Dear members of our community,

We are deeply saddened to confirm a report published by the Hungarian Police announcing the death of our beloved Kenzie.

We would like to express our deep and sincere gratitude to the US and Hungarian authorities and local police for their prompt attention, dedication, care and attention.

And we especially want to recognize and thank the members of this grassroots community at home and abroad for contributing to such a remarkable search effort. We are very grateful to our Hungarian friends and locals for raising awareness on social media, distributing flyers, offering translation services and mobilizing a mission on the ground to find 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. As a nurse practitioner, Kenzie used her humor, positivity and boundless empathy to help her patients heal and encourage family and friends.

We are grateful that Keznie’s soul is now at peace. Her memory and legacy will live on in the hearts of all she touched. Understanding Kenzie’s spirit means embracing with all your heart the immense joy and wonder of life. Her wish for the world: fully embrace the present moment, be your authentic self, practice kindness, and always walk in the light.

Thank you for all your support and continued prayers. During this difficult time, we ask that you respect the privacy of Kenzie’s family and friends, all of whom remain grateful for your love and concern.

Forever in the light, Kenzie’s family and friends”

On Thursday, 7 News spoke with Michalski’s friend, Gretchen Tower. The two traveled through Europe and Hungary was their last stop.

Tower described the entire situation as a “nightmare.”

“We had three great days in Hungary,” Tower said. “Explore, eat, walk around town.”

Western New York resident traveling through Hungary found dead, man arrested for murder

On Monday the friends went their separate ways. Tower was on his way to Italy to visit some friends and Michalski stayed behind in Budapest for another night before a scheduled flight the next day.

“She walked me out of the Airbnb and we hugged goodbye and said I love you,” Tower said.

The two exchanged text messages late Monday night.

“She was sitting in a bar in the Jewish ruin district drinking a glass of wine,” Tower said. “It looked like she was eating.”

‘It’s a nightmare’: The search continues for missing residents of Western New York in Europe

Tower said she responded to a message from Michalski around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday. That was the last time they communicated. Then Tower received messages from Airbnb that Michalski had not paid.

“This is completely unusual for her, she would never do this, I don’t know what’s going on,” Tower said.

Later Tuesday, Tower called the U.S. Embassy to report Michalski missing.

Friends search for missing Fredonia resident during holiday in Hungary

“She was kind, loving, smart, articulate and responsible,” Tower said.

A GoFundMe was set up to support her family which you can find here.