A 31-year-old nurse from Portland, Oregon, Kenzie Michalski, met a tragic end during her visit to Hungary, as confirmed by local law enforcement. Michalski vanished from the bustling nightlife of Budapest on November 5, prompting an immediate investigation and suspicions of criminal activity.
Security camera footage from the night of Michalski’s disappearance showed her moving between different clubs with a man who was later identified as a suspect. The man, a 37-year-old Irish national known only by his initials LTM, was apprehended and confessed to the crime, leading authorities to Michalski’s remains.
LTM alleged that the murder was unintentional, happening during a private encounter. The two had met at a nightclub and danced before departing for his rented apartment. In a bid to hide his crime, LTM cleaned the apartment and concealed Michalski’s body in a wardrobe. He then placed her remains in a suitcase he had purchased to discreetly remove the body from the premises.
LTM rented a vehicle and drove roughly 90 miles southwest of Budapest to Lake Balaton. He discarded the body in a forested area near the town of Szigliget. Investigations revealed his internet history was filled with searches on how to dispose of a body, police procedures in missing person cases, and the presence of wild boars in the Lake Balaton area.
The murder took place just a day after Michalski and a friend had completed a tour through Europe. Michalski decided to stay in Hungary for an extra night while her friend, Gretchen Tower, journeyed to Italy. The two maintained contact until shortly after midnight on Tuesday. When Michalski failed to check out of her Airbnb or board her flight back to the U.S., Tower alerted the U.S. Embassy.
A candlelight vigil was organized in Budapest in Michalski’s memory. Her father, Bill, spoke at the event, sharing that his daughter had previously visited Budapest and considered it her “happy place.” He expressed his sorrow and bewilderment over the tragic incident, stating, “There was no reason for this to happen. I’m still trying to wrap my arms around what happened … I don’t know that I ever will.”