A Hungarian court has ordered that an Irish man being questioned by police in connection with the murder of American woman Mackenzie Michalski to remain for a further 30 days.
Ms Michalski (31), who was on holiday in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, was last seen at a nightclub in the city on Tuesday last and listed as missing by Budapest Police Headquarters later that day.
It is understood that Ms Michalski, who is originally from western New York, had travelled from Portland, Oregon in the US, and was last seen near Szimpla Kert, known as the party district in the city, at around 10pm.
The nurse practitioner had been travelling throughout Europe with a female friend and Hungary was their last stop. The two separated for the last night of their trip.
Ms Michalski's friend said she received texts from her and that she was at a bar in the Jewish run district having a drink and dinner.
She detailed how she responded to a message from Ms Michalski at around 12:45 am on Tuesday. That was the last time they communicated.
The dead woman’s friend received messages from Airbnb that her friend had not checked out and that is when she reported her missing to the US Embassy.
The 6th District Police Department along with the Fugitive Search Division obtained footage from all available CCTV cameras in the neighbourhood, and noticed a man with whom the missing girl was seen together in several nightclubs.
The arrested man, who had been in Budapest for a week on holiday prior to meeting the American woman, has allegedly told police that he and the dead woman went back to his rented apartment, were intimate, and that her death was an alleged accident.
He allegedly informed police after his arrest that he attempted to conceal her body in a suitcase, which he transported in the boot of his rental car to a marshy area in Szigliget.
Detectives have also said they found numerous alleged incriminating online searches on a computer.
Ms Michalski’s belongings were discovered at her Airbnb after the designated check-out time, and she missed her flight scheduled on Tuesday for Amsterdam. She worked as a neurosurgery nurse practitioner at Providence St Vincent Medical Center in Oregon.
The Irish man’s lawyer, József Pásztor, according to local media, informed the Hungarian court that the woman’s death was an accident and has denied any guilt.
According to Mr Pásztor, his client has no prior criminal record in Ireland or the UK, and maintains that the incident was a tragic mishap.
A post-mortem and forensic examination are still pending, and authorities have yet to confirm the cause of Ms Michalski’s death.
The court has ordered the Irish man's 30-day arrest, citing the risk of escaping and hiding, but the order is subject to appeal.
At a memorial service outside the US Embassy in Budapest, Ms Michalski’s parents expressed deep gratitude to the Hungarian community and police for their unwavering efforts in the search for their daughter, who was tragically murdered.
Friends, family, and former colleagues gathered to honour the 31-year-old, lighting candles in her memory. Mackenzie was remembered for her compassion and dedication to her work.
