Beauty Influencer Killed and Hidden in a Suitcase in Slovenia
STEFANIE PIEPER – A 32-year-old Austrian beauty influencer was found dead inside a suitcase buried in a forest, days after she went missing following a Christmas party on November 23.
Her family and friends reported her missing when she failed to return home and could not be reached, raising immediate concern for her safety. Before her disappearance, Pieper had sent a message to a friend saying she had arrived home safely, although she noticed someone at the stairs of her apartment. Neighbors later reported hearing what sounded like an argument coming from her home.
Authorities began investigating Pieper’s apartment the night she went missing and encountered her ex-boyfriend, identified as Patrick M., who claimed he was there to care for her dog. However, police noticed suspicious bloodstains at the apartment door, prompting further investigation. On November 24, a day after Pieper’s disappearance, Patrick was apprehended near the Austrian-Slovenian Spielfeld border, and his vehicle was impounded.
During questioning, Patrick eventually admitted to killing Pieper by strangulation. He then placed her body inside a suitcase and buried it in a wooded area in Slovenia. The confession clarified the mysterious circumstances surrounding Pieper’s disappearance and confirmed the evidence found by police.
Meanwhile, strangulation is the act of applying pressure to a person’s neck in a way that restricts airflow and blood flow to the brain. This can cause a person to lose consciousness, sustain serious injury, or even die if the pressure continues.
There are two main types of strangulation: manual strangulation, which involves using the hands to squeeze the neck, and ligature strangulation, which involves using an object such as a rope, cord, or belt to choke the person. Strangulation is considered a very serious form of assault and is often associated with violent crimes. Even a brief period of pressure can cause lasting harm or be fatal, which is why it is treated with the utmost seriousness in both medical and legal contexts.