Missing US Tourist Mackenzie Michalski Found Dead in Suitcase Near Lake in Budapest, Hungary

An American nurse, Mackenzie Michalski went missing while on vacation in Europe, and unfortunately, there is a sad update.

A man has been arrested after she was found deceased during her trip. This came after her disappearance in Hungary.

Thirty-one-year-old Mackenzie Michalski was traveling in Budapest, Hungary, and was last seen at a nightclub on Tuesday before her body was discovered.

At the beginning of the investigation, police reported several suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance. They later identified a man who had been seen with her at several nightclubs that Tuesday night.

The suspect, reportedly a 37-year-old Irish man, was interviewed by authorities. During the interview, he allegedly admitted to the crime and led police to her body.

Mackenzie was last seen at a club in the Jewish Quarter of Budapest. Friends had received pictures from her at the bar, but after that, family and friends were unable to reach her. Her belongings were left at the Airbnb where she was staying.

She missed her flight from Hungary to Amsterdam, which was supposed to be part of her journey home. Mackenzie had been traveling with a group of friends for a birthday trip. Her friend Gretchen Tower, one of the last people to see her on the trip, said Hungary was their final stop, and they had spent three great days there, exploring the city, walking around, and enjoying meals. Gretchen shared that they said their goodbyes on Monday, with Mackenzie walking her downstairs from the Airbnb. They hugged and said they loved each other before Gretchen left for the airport.

Gretchen was on her way to Italy to visit other friends, while Mackenzie stayed one more night in Budapest. Gretchen said Mackenzie was at a bar in the Jewish Quarter, enjoying a glass of wine and possibly dinner. The two exchanged text messages until about 12:45 on Tuesday morning, but Gretchen never received a response back from Mackenzie after that.

It wasn’t until Gretchen received a notification from Airbnb that Mackenzie hadn’t checked out that she became really concerned. Gretchen said it was completely unlike her friend not to be in touch. When she still hadn’t heard from Mackenzie later that day, she reported her missing to the U.S. embassy.

Her family and friends made countless efforts to find her. Eventually, they were notified that her body had been found.

Police reportedly arrested the 37-year-old suspect outside an apartment complex after he was identified from security footage. His name has not yet been released.

Friends and family remember Mackenzie as a beautiful and compassionate young woman who dedicated her life to caring for others and making the world a better place. A social media post described her as a nurse practitioner who used humor, positivity, and empathy to help heal her patients and support her family and friends.

According to Mackenzie’s father, Bill, family members traveled to Budapest to hold a vigil for her.

A GoFundMe campaign was initially set up to help fund the search for Mackenzie. Now, those funds will likely go towards her funeral.