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 of the Syrian woman and child, who had been missing for several months, were uncovered recently by authorities. Disturbingly, the freezers were concealed behind a drywall partition in the flat, located in Innsbruck.
Two men, aged 55 and 53, brothers from Austria, were initially arrested in June. The elder brother, who was a colleague of the victim, claimed last week that the incident had been an accident, although he denied any involvement in a murder.
As investigations unfolded, prosecutor spokesman Hansjörg Mayr stated that there was 'strong suspicion of murder' against the brothers. These arrests followed the report of the family's disappearance, which was made by the woman’s cousin living in Germany on July 25, 2024.
At that time, the woman's colleague told police that she had taken a trip to Turkey with her daughter. However, subsequent investigations unveiled discrepancies, including the discovery of her mobile phone in her home. Eyewitness accounts spoke of disturbing sounds, such as cries for help, on the day of her disappearance.
A storage unit connected to the suspects had also been utilized before the disappearance, where one of the freezers was placed, raising further suspicions of premeditation. Expert analysis suggested the bodies had been hidden deliberately and professionally.
While the brothers were arrested months ago, it wasn’t until November 12 that the 55-year-old admitted to the disposal of the bodies but refuted any intent to murder. His brother, while acknowledging involvement in the cover-up, also denied knowledge of a homicide.
The tragic case has drawn significant attention, prompting Austria's Minister for Women and the Justice Minister to express their outrage, declaring that 'femicides are a deeply rooted societal problem that must be addressed decisively.'
