Parents of US nurse allegedly murdered by Irishman attend special tribute to her

Sunday World

a day ago

Mackenzie Michalski, a 31-year-old American nurse, went missing on November 4 from a nightclub in central Budapest
The parents of Mackenzie Michalski who was murdered while traveling in Budapest last November, have attended a special soccer match in her honour.
The local Portland Thorns FC paid tribute to the nurse ahead of their Sunday match with Seattle Reign.
According to KPTV, her parents, Bill and Jill Michalski flew in from Buffalo, New York, on derby day against Seattle.
'Mackenzie loved Portland and she loved Portland soccer,' Bill Michalski said.
Their 31-year-old daughter, who was a neurosurgery nurse practitioner at Providence St Vincent, was a major soccer fan.
Jill Michalski said there were humbled and grateful for the Thorns honouring her daughter.
'She lived a humanitarian life of service, but she was also a huge adventurer, traveller, loved to live life large and even she would be completely blown away the way she is being honoured today.'
Ahead of the match, Thorns assistant coach Vytas Andriuškevičius presented both parents with a custom jersey.
'It's a very sad story, but to celebrate someone's life and to remember good stories, good memories and then to cheer each other and just to have a moment together, I think it's very special,' Andriuškevičius told KPTV.
'Maybe it becomes the thing that they do yearly, and it's something that we can remind of her, and remember her and remember her stories, and keep her present with us daily.'
Mackenzie Michalski lived in Portland for four years, where, Jill Michalski, said they had been 'showered with love'.
'Although this is a celebration for a day, it's still a really difficult time and everyone has gone beyond and above to make us feel comfortable and to just love on us,' she said.
Mackenzie Michalski with her parents
'She was always involved in the community, and she loved history, she loved the culture of Portland because it's very unique, coming from Buffalo, New York,' Bill Michalski said. 'She embraced it and she really loved it.'
Mackenzie Michalski
News in 90 Seconds - August 13th
Mackenzie Michalski, a 31-year-old American nurse, went missing on November 4 from a nightclub in central Budapest. Her body was later discovered in a suitcase in a wooded area 140km outside the capital.
A 37-year-old Irish man was arrested in connection with her murder after the discovery of her remains. The man, who works in marketing and has not been named, has appealed his ongoing detention.
Last April his lawyer, Dr Gyorgy Magyar, said: 'My law firm is defending an Irish citizen who is suspected of the crime of murder committed against a US citizen.
'In relation to the case, I can inform you that the investigation conducted by the police is still ongoing, which is to obtain further expert opinions and evaluate the available evidence.
Mackenzie Michalski was killed last November
'The court has extended the detention of our client for two months, against which our office has filed an appeal. The next court decision regarding the extension of the detention is expected in early May.'
The man's ongoing incarceration is the second extension Budapest's Metropolitan Prosecution Office has secured in relation to the Irish suspect.
He was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Ms Michalski on November 7 after police reviewed CCTV footage from the surrounding area where the young woman was last seen.
Ms Michalski, who worked as a nurse in Portland, Oregon, last made contact with friends on the night of Monday November 4 from a nightclub in central Budapest.
She was reported missing the next day by her friends after she did not check out of her Airbnb accommodation in the Hungarian capital.
According to a statement released by Budapest police, Ms Michalski and the male suspect met at a nightclub in central Budapest on the night of her disappearance before going to another nightclub and later to the man's rented apartment in the city.
The same police statement noted that the Irish man maintained that Ms Michalski's death was accidental.
According to the police, following Ms Michalski's death, the suspect cleaned his apartment and drove to Lake Balaton, two hours west of Budapest, with Ms Michalski's body placed in the suitcase, before hiding her body in a wooded area.
After his arrest, the suspect travelled with police to Lake Balaton to reveal the location of Ms Michalski's body.
Mr Magyar previously told a Hungarian media outlet that Ms Michalski's death was 'an accidental act without intention'.
Under Hungarian law, a suspect is formally charged after the conclusion of an investigation.
In cases of suspected murder or manslaughter, an investigation period can take a number of months, and, in some cases, more than a year to conclude.
In an interview with this newspaper earlier this year, Ms Michalski's father said he did not believe his daughter's death was accidental.
'The main thing for us now is to be patient and allow the police to continue to carry out their investigation,' Bill Michalski said. 'Everyone wants to know the details. We have faith in the police investigation, and they are keeping us updated.'
Ms Michalski's mother, Jill, added: 'Our daughter was kind, compassionate, independent and adventurous. And she loved to laugh. People ask us how we are doing… all we can say is we are doing as well as we can be.'