The Hungarian police caught the suspect within a day.
The Buda Central District Court has ordered the pre-trial detention of a man for one month, until 9 February 2026, while an investigation into an alleged homicide is carried out. According to the court’s press release, he will be detained at the Judicial Observation and Psychiatric Institute (IMEI).
It is suspected that the man planned to kill a prostitute in order to obtain money. He allegedly intended to use the money to purchase an illegal firearm with which to commit further violent crimes against unnamed politicians.
On 5 January 2026, the victim received the suspect at her apartment in Budapest’s 13th district to provide sexual services. However, the suspect went to the apartment with the intention of killing the woman and stealing her valuables.
During the meeting, the suspect stabbed the victim several times with a knife and assaulted her in other ways. The woman (who was previously described in the press as a „well-known fitness model”) died at the scene as a result of her injuries.
After the killing, the suspect searched the apartment and took the victim’s mobile phone, a pair of wireless earphones, an iPad and a black coat, then fled the scene.
If proven, the suspect’s actions may constitute premeditated homicide committed for financial gain.
The prosecution requested the suspect’s detention to ensure his presence, to prevent interference with the investigation, and to reduce the risk of reoffending.
The court found that although the suspect’s personal circumstances were generally favorable, his behavior could become unpredictable due to his current mental disorder. The severity of the potential sentence also creates a real risk of absconding. Furthermore, the suspect attempted to conceal evidence by hiding his backpack, including the blood-stained clothing worn during the crime.
The court concluded that the objectives of the coercive measure could only be achieved through detention, as compliance with a milder measure could not be expected. Given the need for psychiatric treatment, the court ordered that the detention be carried out at the IMEI.
What happened earlier?
Her friends had been searching for the 29-year-old woman for days, so on January 6, with the help of firemen, they entered her apartment in District XIII. After firefighters broke down the door, police found only the woman’s body, and the evidence clearly indicated that a murder had taken place. The police immediately launched a manhunt for the killer. The suspected perpetrator did not have long to hide, as the police arrested the 33-year-old man in the 19th district of the capital at around 1 a.m. on January 7.
