Stefanie Pieper, a 31-year-old Austrian beauty influencer, was found dead in a remote forest in Slovenia, her body concealed in a suitcase. Pieper had been missing for nearly a week before her body was discovered on Friday. She was last seen returning home from a Christmas party on November 23.
Pieper’s ex-boyfriend, also 31, is the primary suspect in her murder. According to reports from the Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung, he confessed to strangling Pieper and led police to the location where he had disposed of her body.
Pieper was reported missing after she failed to show up for a scheduled photo shoot. Her family and colleagues became concerned when they were unable to reach her. Prior to her disappearance, Pieper had sent a WhatsApp message to her friends, indicating that she had arrived home safely. However, she later sent another message expressing concern that someone had followed her to her apartment building.
Residents of Pieper’s apartment building reported hearing an argument and seeing her ex-boyfriend on the premises, according to People Magazine. The ex-boyfriend was arrested by Slovenian State Police on Monday after his car caught fire outside a casino near the Austrian border.
The suspect had reportedly made several trips to Slovenia by car before his arrest, according to Styrian State Police. He was extradited to Austria on Friday, following his confession and the discovery of Pieper’s body. In addition to the ex-boyfriend, his father and brother have also been taken into custody.
The tragic death of Stefanie Pieper has sent shockwaves through the influencer community, highlighting the potential dangers faced by public figures in the digital age. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the events leading up to Pieper’s untimely death.