BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Budapest Police Headquarters have shared an update to the investigation to a missing Western New York woman, Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski.
While traveling abroad in Budapest, Hungary , the 31-year-old nurse practitioner, who is originally from Fredonia but lived in Portland, Oregon had been reported missing by family and friends on November 5.
Family and friends of Kenzie had noticed her disappearance after she never got on a flight leaving Budapest, and were reached out to by an Airbnb host who said all of her belongings were still there after checkout.
The Budapest Police Headquarters posted a devastating update on Friday which stated 'Disappearance to Manslaughter'.
In the press release, which was translated from Hungarian to English, Detectives from the VI District Police Department reported that Kenzie was found murdered.
"Teresa City police came into sight of a man with whom the missing girl was seen in several nightclubs; 37-year-old Irish citizen M.L.T. was identified and apprehended outside an apartment in District VII." the Hungarian press release said. "Life Protection Division detectives questioned the Irishman as a suspect in manslaughter, who confessed and showed police where he had hidden the woman's body. He was taken into custody and an arrest was initiated."
Friends of Kenzie confirmed the the press release with 2 On Your Side's Claudine Ewing.
A Facebook page dedicated to finding Kenzie that was created by her friends now has 4.3K members in it from across the country.
In an update made to the 'Finding Mackenzie Michalski' Facebook page, an admin of the page wrote at 12:46 p.m. on Friday "We want to thank everyone for the overwhelming support. At this time we ask that you please respect the privacy of MacKenzie's friends and family and refrain from posting or commenting any information as the case is being handled exclusively by the police."
Michalski worked for healthcare provider Providence in Oregon. They issued this statement on Friday:
The people of Providence are deeply saddened by the news of the death of Mackenzie “Kenzie” Michalski. Kenzie was a neurosurgery nurse practitioner based at Providence St. Vincent. Those who worked with her and knew her best say Kenzie was kind and loving – a great friend and a valued caregiver who lived out our Providence mission and values in her daily life. This loss of a beloved member of our Providence family is especially difficult, as it follows the death of Melissa Jubane in September. Once again, this is a time when the people of Providence come together to grieve, to heal and to lean on each other. We appreciate the support of our community and all those who are holding Kenzie’s loved ones and colleagues in their hearts and prayers.
