A man has been arrested after an American nurse was found dead after disappearing in Europe.
Mackenzie Michalski, 31, was traveling in Budapest, Hungary, and was last seen at a nightclub on Tuesday before her body was later discovered.
Police reported seeing ‘several suspicious circumstances’ about her disappearance. They later identified a man as having been seen with her in several clubs that night.
The 37-year-old Irish man was interviewed by police, during which he admitted to the crime and showed them where he hid her body.
Mackenzie Michalski, 31, had gone to Hungary as a tourist and was last seen at a nightclub on Tuesday before her body was eventually found
A Facebook group with community members, friends and family was created for a collective effort to find Mackenzie.
On behalf of her family this statement was released on the group: ‘Dear members of our community, we are deeply saddened to confirm a report published by Hungarian police announcing the death of our beloved Kenzie.’
The statement further thanked the efforts of everyone including strangers abroad and officials across the world for getting involved in helping find Mackenzie.
‘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 limitless empathy to help heal her patients and encourage family and friends alike.’
Mackenzie had last been seen at a club in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, according to her GoFundMe page, after her friends had received pictures from her in the bar.
A 37-year-old Irish man was interviewed by police, during which he admitted to the crime and showed them where he hid her body
Since then, family or friends hadn’t been able to reach her, and her belongings were found in the Airbnb she was staying in.
Mackenzie also then missed her flight from Hungary to Amsterdam which was on her route back home.
The group of friends had been traveling for a birthday trip, according to fellow traveler and friend, Gretchen Tower, reported WKBW.
Tower was also one of the last people to see Mackenzie on their Europe tour trip, and Hungary was their last stop.
‘We had a great three days in Hungary. Exploring, eating, walking the city,’ she told the outlet.
The two said their goodbyes on Monday, Tower recalled: ‘She walked me downstairs out of the Airbnb, we hugged goodbye, we said our I love yous, I went to the airport.’
Friend and fellow traveler, Gretchen Tower, said the group had been traveling together and when she lost contact with Mackenzie Tower was the one who reported her missing
Tower was on her way to Italy to visit some other friends and Mackenzie stayed behind for one more night in Budapest.
‘She was at a bar in the Jewish ruin district having a glass of wine, looked like she was having dinner,’ said Tower.
The two exchanged text messages before Mackenzie’s disappearance. Tower said she had responded to a message at around 12.45 Tuesday morning, but Mackenzie never responded.
Police investigators reporting seeing ‘several suspicious circumstances’ about her disappearance
It wasn’t until Tower got a notification from the Airbnb alerting her that Mackenzie had never checked out that Tower became concerned.
‘I started to worry, and I messaged and said, “This is completely uncharacteristic of her, she would never do this, I don’t know what’s going on,’ Tower told the outlet.
When Tower had still heard nothing from Mackenzie later that day, she reported her missing to the US Embassy.
After countless efforts to find her from across the world, Mackenzie’s family were eventually informed her body had been found.
Police arrested the 37-year-old Irish man outside an apartment complex after he was identified with security footage.
In a statement released from Hungarian police, Belfast Live reported that officials said: ‘Investigators from the Life Protection Department interrogated the Irish man as a suspect for the crime of murder, who gave a statement and also showed the police where he hid the woman’s body. He was taken into custody and his arrest is initiated.’
According to her father, Bill Michalski, members of the family including her mother traveled to Budapest ‘holding a light for our daughter Mackenzie’.
A GoFundMe was created to help fund the search for Mackenzie, raising over $36,000 for the cause.
Candlelight vigils in Budapest and New York will be held for Mackenzie Saturday evening where friends and family can come together to remember her.
‘We are thankful that Kenzie’s soul is now at peace. Her memory and legacy will endure in the hearts of all whom she’s touched,’ a representative of the family wrote.
‘To understand Kenzie’s spirit is to wholeheartedly embrace the vast 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.’
