Shocking Discovery: Bodies of Vanished Mum and Daughter Found in Freezing Units in Austria

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The remains of a 34-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter have been found inside freezing appliances in an flat in western Austria.

The deceased, a woman from Syria and her daughter, who had been missing for a number of months, were detected on Friday. The freezers were hidden behind a false wall in the flat, situated in the Innsbruck area.

Two individuals, a 55-year-old Austrian and his 53-year-old brother, were detained in June. The 55-year-old, a colleague of the Syrian woman, informed police last week that there had been an accident—but rejected homicide.

Informing journalists previously, a official for the state prosecutor said the pair were being held on "strong suspicion of murder".

The identities of those involved have not been disclosed by authorities, in following national regulations.

Their going missing was first reported by the woman's cousin, who resides in Germany, on July 25, 2024.

Investigators said the male associate told them at the time she had taken an extended trip with her daughter to see her family in Turkey.

The victim's bank card was then noted as being active overseas several times.

Yet when investigators entered the woman's home, her mobile phone was discovered.

An individual also claimed overhearing a commotion in the dwelling, and screams of "mum" on the date the two were thought to have disappeared.

An expanded official inquiry was launched, with authorities uncovering multiple communications sent from the woman's phone—including a notice of quitting to her workplace and texts to the male colleague.

Law enforcement confirmed a four-figure sum was also transferred to the individual.

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The head of the State Criminal Police Office informed media representatives on Tuesday that a storage facility had been secured before the mother and child went missing and a freezing appliance had been positioned inside.

The male siblings extracted the appliance from the facility on the day the mother and daughter went missing, she said. And a week later, they purchased a second unit.

Authorities believe they consider this suggests the fatalities were premeditated.

"The reason for their demise was not identifiable due to the state of decomposition of the bodies," she stated.

The prosecutor's spokesman—from the legal authorities—said the precise timeline is yet to be determined, but the remains were carefully placed and not discovered during a prior examination.

Although the men were detained in June, it was not until November 12 that the suspect confessed to an event and to hiding the bodies. He rejects any plan to cause death, officials confirmed.

In a related development, his younger brother acknowledged a attempt to hide evidence but denied awareness of a homicide.

The two suspects are presently in detention before court proceedings in detention centers in Innsbruck and Salzburg, situated at a distance.

Via a shared communication, the nation's official for women's affairs and the top legal representative stated the "alleged double murder... constitutes the swift and cruel conclusion of a mother and child and reveals a brutal scheme".

"Women and girls are falling victim to homicide due to the simple reality that they are female," they added.

"Murders of women are a strongly established and society-wide problem that we must address decisively."

Shannon Richmond
Shannon Richmond

A tech strategist with over a decade in digital innovation, specializing in AI integration and sustainable tech solutions.