Austrian beauty influencer Stefanie Pieper, 31, has reportedly been found dead in a forest in Slovenia, one week after she was first declared missing. Police discovered her body after her ex-boyfriend allegedly confessed to killing her and directed authorities to the location where she had been hidden.
According to Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung, the former boyfriend told investigators that he strangled Pieper and later placed her body in a suitcase before disposing of it.
Pieper was reported missing by her relatives and friends when she failed to show up for a scheduled photoshoot and could not be reached. She was last seen by friends after attending a Christmas party.
Local reports say that before she vanished, Pieper sent her friends a WhatsApp message saying she had arrived home. She then reportedly followed up with another message claiming someone had trailed her and was standing in the stairwell of her building.
Citing local media, reports indicate that neighbours told authorities they heard an argument and allegedly saw Pieper’s ex-boyfriend in the building around that time.
Ex-Boyfriend Allegedly Admits to Killing Her
About a week after Pieper was reported missing, her 31-year-old ex-boyfriend allegedly confessed to the crime.
Local outlets report that he came to the attention of authorities after his car caught fire at a casino near the Austrian border. Following his detention, he is said to have admitted his involvement and guided police to the scene where Pieper’s body was found.
Slovenian authorities have since extradited him to Austria.
In addition to Pieper’s ex-boyfriend, police have also arrested two of his relatives — his brother and stepfather. The motive behind Stefanie Pieper’s killing has not yet been publicly disclosed and remains under investigation.
