BUDAPEST, Hungary — The Budapest Metropolitan Police held a press conference on Saturday for the murder of WNY native Mackenzie "Kenzie" Michalski.
According to a Facebook post made by the Budapest Police Headquarters, a man was arrested in connection to the murder. A video of the suspect at the police station as well as where he hid Michalski's body can be see in the post below.
The following details were shared during the press conference.
Investigators of the Budapest Police Headquarters Target Search team conducted a camera search and identified a man who was seen with the missing girl in several entertainment places. The man also had searched for several incriminating things on the internet including "how reliable the police is in Budapest" and "How does the police deal with the cases of a missing person?"
The 37-year-old Irish man was arrested at his rented apartment on Nov. 6. Additional evidence was discovered after the arrest to supported the suspicion of manslaughter. He admitted to killing Michalski but called it an accident, according to police. After the investigation, the man showed detectives where he hid the body.
"She met an Irish man a few years older than her in an entertainment place, with whom they went to another entertainment place, danced there, became closer, and the girl decided to go up the man. He went to his rented apartment in the district, where they had an intimate relationship and in the meantime he broke up with the girl. The perpetrator then tried to hide traces of the murder; he cleaned up his apartment and hid the girl's dead body in a wardrobe while he went to buy a suitcase," Budapest Police said.
After this, police say he had put the victim's body into the suitcase which he then put into the trunk of a rented car. He headed towards Lake Balaton.
"On the outskirts of Szigliget, he hid his victim in a forested part, then he drove back to Budapest, where he was captured," the police added.
While traveling abroad in Budapest, the 31-year-old nurse practitioner, who is originally from Fredonia but lived in Portland, Ore., had been reported missing by family and friends on Nov. 5.
Family and friends of Kenzie had noticed her disappearance after she never got on a flight leaving Budapest, and they were contacted by an Airbnb host, who said all of her belongings were still there after checkout.
A Facebook page dedicated to finding Kenzie that was created by her friends now has over 4,500 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. Friday that: "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."