Shocking Find: Bodies of Missing Mother and Child Found in Freezing Units in the Alpine Nation

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The bodies of a mother aged 34 and her 10-year-old daughter have been found inside freezers in an flat in western Austria.

The victims, a woman from Syria and her daughter, who had been missing for several months, were uncovered on Friday. The freezers were placed behind a false wall in the apartment, located in the city of Innsbruck.

Two men, a 55-year-old Austrian and his brother aged 53, were taken into custody in June. The elder brother, a work associate of the female victim, told authorities last week that there had been an unfortunate event—but disputed homicide.

Informing journalists previously, a representative for the state prosecutor stated the brothers were being held on "strong suspicion of homicide".

The names of those implicated have been withheld by authorities, in following national regulations.

Their going missing was initially flagged by the female victim's relative, who is based in Germany, on the 25th of July last year.

Police said the 55-year-old suspect informed them at the time she had gone on an prolonged visit with her daughter to see her family in the nation of Turkey.

The mother's debit card was then noted as being active overseas repeatedly.

But when police entered the victim's residence, her mobile phone was found.

Someone also reported hearing a commotion in the apartment, and shouts of "mother" on the date the mother and child were thought to have disappeared.

An expanded police investigation was launched, with investigators finding various messages transmitted via the victim's mobile—among them a resignation letter to her workplace and texts to the 55-year-old suspect.

Officials stated a amount in the thousands was also moved to the suspect.

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Katja Tersch told media representatives on that day that a storage unit had been leased before the vanishing and a freezing appliance had been positioned inside.

The two suspects took out the freezer from the unit on the day the victims disappeared, she revealed. And a week later, they obtained an additional appliance.

Officials believe they believe this points to the demise were premeditated.

"The reason for their demise remains unclear due to the condition of the victims," she stated.

The prosecutor's spokesman—representing the state—said the precise timeline is yet to be determined, but the remains were carefully placed and went unnoticed during a previous house search.

Although the suspects were detained in the summer, it was not until the 12th of November that the suspect confessed to an occurrence and to storing the victims. He denies any plan to cause death, officials confirmed.

Meanwhile, his younger brother admitted to a concealment but disputed awareness of a killing.

The two suspects are presently in pre-trial detention in detention centers in Innsbruck and Salzburg, situated at a distance.

Through a combined announcement, the nation's official for women's affairs and the top legal representative said the "reported homicide of mother and child... constitutes the swift and cruel conclusion of two human lives and exposes a heartless setup".

"Women and girls are being murdered due to the simple reality that they are women and girls," they continued.

"Femicides are a deeply rooted and widespread concern that we must address decisively."

Nancy Carter
Nancy Carter

Environmental scientist and writer passionate about sustainable living and sharing practical eco-tips.