The bodies of a 34-year-old woman and her daughter, 10, have been found inside freezers in an apartment in western Austria. The remains of the Syrian woman and child, who had been missing for several months, were discovered on Friday, hidden behind a drywall partition in the flat located in Innsbruck.
Two men, a 55-year-old Austrian and his 53-year-old brother, were arrested in June. The older man, a colleague of the Syrian woman, claimed last week that there had been an accident but denied murder.
Hansjörg Mayr, spokesman for the public prosecutor's office, stated that the men are being held on strong suspicion of murder. Names have not been released due to Austrian law.
The disappearance of the family was reported by the woman’s cousin from Germany on July 25, 2024. Initially, the woman's colleague claimed she was on an extended trip with her daughter to visit family in Turkey. Evidence later showed the woman's bank card was used abroad.
However, a mobile phone was discovered during a search of the residence. Witnesses reported hearing loud noises and cries of mama around the onset of their disappearance.
Further police investigations revealed messages from the woman's phone and a significant money transfer to the colleague.
Katja Tersch, head of the State Criminal Police Office in Tyrol, noted that a storage unit had been rented prior to the victims' disappearance, which contained a freezer that was removed on the day they went missing. The older brother has since confessed to hiding the bodies, while both have denied intent to kill.
This tragic case has intensified discussions around femicide in Austria, with governmental officials emphasizing the need to combat violence against women and girls.
Two men, a 55-year-old Austrian and his 53-year-old brother, were arrested in June. The older man, a colleague of the Syrian woman, claimed last week that there had been an accident but denied murder.
Hansjörg Mayr, spokesman for the public prosecutor's office, stated that the men are being held on strong suspicion of murder. Names have not been released due to Austrian law.
The disappearance of the family was reported by the woman’s cousin from Germany on July 25, 2024. Initially, the woman's colleague claimed she was on an extended trip with her daughter to visit family in Turkey. Evidence later showed the woman's bank card was used abroad.
However, a mobile phone was discovered during a search of the residence. Witnesses reported hearing loud noises and cries of mama around the onset of their disappearance.
Further police investigations revealed messages from the woman's phone and a significant money transfer to the colleague.
Katja Tersch, head of the State Criminal Police Office in Tyrol, noted that a storage unit had been rented prior to the victims' disappearance, which contained a freezer that was removed on the day they went missing. The older brother has since confessed to hiding the bodies, while both have denied intent to kill.
This tragic case has intensified discussions around femicide in Austria, with governmental officials emphasizing the need to combat violence against women and girls.
