A court in Budapest, Hungary, has sentenced an Irish citizen to 14 years in prison for the strangulation of American tourist Mackenzie Michalski in 2024. The Budapest Metropolitan Court found the man guilty of murder and imposed the sentence, which does not include the possibility of parole.
Michalski, 31, from Portland, Oregon, was on vacation in Hungary and was reported missing on Nov. 5, 2024. She was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest. Security footage from local clubs showed Michalski, who went by “Kenzie,” with a 37-year-old man, identified by police by the initials L.T.M., on the night of her disappearance.
Investigators stated that Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub, danced, and then left together for his rented apartment. Police said the man beat and strangled Michalski during an intimate encounter. After her death, the suspect reportedly attempted to conceal the crime by cleaning the apartment and hiding her body in a wardrobe.
He then allegedly purchased a suitcase, placed Michalski's body inside, rented a car, and drove to a wooded area near Lake Balaton, about 90 miles southwest of Budapest, where he disposed of the remains. Police video released at the time showed the man leading authorities to the location where the body was found.
Following his arrest in 2024, the man initially claimed Michalski's death was an accident. However, police investigations revealed internet searches he made prior to his apprehension, including inquiries on how to dispose of a body, police procedures in missing person cases, and the potential for pigs to consume human remains. He also searched for information regarding the competence of the Budapest police and the presence of wild boars in the Lake Balaton region.
The approximately 1 1/2 years the man has already spent in detention will be applied to his sentence. Upon completion of his prison term, he is ordered to be deported from Hungary and must also pay 2.5 million forints ($7,995) in court costs. His attorney has indicated an appeal of the verdict.