The bodies of a 34-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter have been found inside freezers in an apartment in western Austria. The remains were discovered on Friday after the two had been reported missing for several months.
Authorities located the bodies of the Syrian woman and her daughter in freezers that were concealed behind a drywall partition within a flat in Innsbruck, touching off a harrowing investigation.
Two men, aged 55 and 53, were previously arrested in June. The older man, who was a colleague of the woman, reportedly informed police last week that an accident had occurred, although he negated any involvement in murder.
Hansjörg Mayr, spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office, has indicated that the brothers are being held under strong suspicion of murder. The identities of the individuals involved remain undisclosed due to local legal regulations.
The initial report on the family’s disappearance was made by the woman’s cousin, residing in Germany, on July 25, 2024. Following a delay during which the colleagues claimed that she had gone on an extended trip with her child to see family in Turkey, police investigations unveiled inconsistencies. Evidence included the woman’s bank card being used abroad while her mobile phone was left behind at home.
Witness accounts described hearing loud noises and cries of “mama” on the day of their disappearance. A subsequent police investigation indicated the woman may have sent various messages before vanishing, and a significant sum was transferred to the male colleague before their disappearance.
Katja Tersch, a representative from the State Criminal Police Office in Tyrol, reported that a freezer had been rented prior to the victims’ disappearance. This freezer was removed by the brothers on the day the woman and child were last seen, raising suspicions of premeditated murder.
As efforts to ascertain the cause of death continue, the brothers have been detained in separate facilities as their case unfolds. Following public outrage, Ministers for Women and Justice have emphasized the ongoing issue of gender-based violence, calling the alleged murders a painful reminder of society’s shortcomings in protecting women and girls.
