Court Sentences Irish National for Murder of American Tourist
A Hungarian court has sentenced an Irish national to 14 years in prison for the murder of 31-year-old Mackenzie Michalski, an American tourist from Portland, Oregon, who was killed in Budapest in November 2024. The verdict was delivered by the Budapest Metropolitan Court on Thursday, with no possibility of parole.
Details of the Crime
Michalski, known as "Kenzie," was reported missing on November 5, 2024, after she was last seen at a nightclub in central Budapest. Police reviewed security footage and observed her with a man, identified as LTM, aged 37 at the time, across several venues that night. The suspect was detained on November 7, questioned, and later confessed to killing Michalski.
According to police, Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub, danced together, and then went to his rented flat. During an "intimate encounter," the man beat and strangled her to death. After the killing, he attempted to conceal the crime by cleaning the flat, hiding Michalski's body in a wardrobe, and later purchasing a suitcase to place her remains inside.
Attempt to Dispose of the Body
The suspect then rented a car and drove approximately 90 miles southwest of Budapest to Lake Balaton, where he dumped the body in a wooded area near the town of Szigliget. Police released footage of the man leading authorities to the spot where he had left the body.
Chilling Internet Searches
Prior to his apprehension, the man conducted disturbing internet searches, including how to dispose of a body, police procedures in missing person cases, whether pigs eat dead bodies, and the presence of wild boars in the Lake Balaton area. He also searched for information about the competence of Budapest police.
Sentence and Appeal
The court sentenced him to 14 years in prison, with the 18 months already served in custody counted toward the sentence. At the conclusion of his sentence, he will be deported from Hungary. He must also pay 2.5 million forints (approximately £6,000) in court costs. His solicitor has lodged an appeal against the verdict. Following his arrest, the man claimed Michalski's death was an accident, but police stated he had attempted to cover up the crime.
