The Graz Public Prosecutor’s Office in Austria formally charged Patrick M., a 31-year-old Slovenian national, with the murder of beauty influencer Stefanie Pieper on September 21, 2026. The indictment came 10 months after Pieper’s body was discovered inside a suitcase buried in a forest near Majšperk, Slovenia, just south of Maribor.
Patrick M. faces two charges: murder and “disturbing the peace of the dead,” an Austrian criminal offense that covers the mistreatment, removal, or desecration of human remains. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 10 to 20 years or life in prison.
Pieper was 31 years old when she was killed in November 2025. She was a makeup artist, aspiring singer, and Instagram content creator from Graz, Austria, with more than 40,000 followers. Her disappearance after a Christmas party, the frantic search that followed, and the disturbing circumstances of how her body was recovered made the case one of the most closely followed criminal stories in Austria and across European media.
Here is a full account of the case from the night she vanished to the formal charges filed against her former partner.
The Night Stefanie Pieper Disappeared
Stefanie Pieper was last seen on November 23, 2025, after attending an early Christmas party in Graz. She left the gathering and arrived at her apartment, initially checking in with friends via WhatsApp to confirm she had gotten home.
Shortly afterward, her tone changed. She sent a message to a friend describing someone in her building’s stairwell, writing about “a creep in the stairwell” and referring to a “dark figure.” The messages raised immediate alarm among those who received them.
After those messages, Pieper’s phone was turned off. She was never heard from again.
The following morning, November 24, 2025, Pieper was expected at a scheduled modeling photo shoot. When she did not appear and could not be reached by phone, her photographer went to her apartment. There, he encountered Pieper’s ex-boyfriend, Patrick M. Police were contacted.
Investigators arriving at the apartment found Pieper’s golden retriever, Marlow, alone inside. Her phone was later discovered discarded in a bush near the building. Neighbors told police they had heard “loud noises” coming from her flat on the night of November 23. Some also reported seeing her ex-boyfriend near the building.
How Police Identified and Arrested the Suspect
Austria’s Styrian State Police moved quickly. Within hours of Pieper being reported missing, investigators identified Patrick M. as a person of interest. The couple had separated weeks earlier but had maintained contact over their shared dog. Patrick M. still possessed a key to Pieper’s apartment.
Influencer Stefanie Pieper’s Ex-Boyfriend Charged with Murder After She Was Found Dead Inside Suitcase in Forest: Report https://t.co/D7p9UuZXKC
— People (@people) September 22, 2026
“Subsequent investigations led to the suspicion that the woman’s 31-year-old ex-boyfriend might be connected to her disappearance,” Styrian State Police said in a statement. “The man is believed to have traveled to Slovenia several times in his car. He could not be contacted by the investigating police.”
On the evening of November 24, 2025, Slovenian police discovered a red Volkswagen Golf engulfed in flames in a casino parking lot near the Austrian-Slovenian border. A man was found near the burning vehicle. He was identified as Patrick M.
Investigators believed the car fire was an attempt to destroy evidence. Patrick M. was detained on the spot by Slovenian authorities. Austria promptly requested his extradition, which was granted.
Back in Austria, police detained two additional men connected to the suspect: his brother and his stepfather. Both were held at the Graz-Jakomini correctional facility on suspicion of obstruction of justice, amid accusations that they may have assisted in moving Pieper’s body. As of the September 2026 indictment, they are not expected to face formal charges.
The Discovery of Stefanie Pieper’s Body
After initially denying involvement, Patrick M. reportedly gave investigators information about where Pieper’s remains had been taken. On November 29, 2025, six days after her disappearance, Slovenian authorities found a suitcase buried in a wooded area near Majšperk.
Stefanie Pieper’s body was inside.
Prosecutors allege that Patrick M. strangled Pieper and inflicted stab and cut wounds to her neck inside her Graz apartment on the morning of November 23, 2025. He then allegedly forced her body into the suitcase, drove it across the border into Slovenia, and buried it in the remote forest location.
A forensic examination of the suspect’s car reportedly yielded no significant physical evidence, a detail that investigators noted at the time.
What the Autopsy Revealed and Why the Findings Remain Uncertain
The autopsy confirmed that strangulation was the cause of Pieper’s death. Forensic pathologists documented severe violence to her neck, along with significant injuries to her head and face, including bruising around her nose and cheek.
However, the forensic examination left a critical question unanswered: exactly when Pieper died.
In March 2026, a spokesperson for the Graz Public Prosecutor’s Office provided a statement to German outlet Bild that introduced a possibility that drew international attention.
“The autopsy could not definitively determine when the young woman died,” the spokesperson said. “It is entirely possible that she was still alive when she was placed in the suitcase. However, it is equally possible that she was killed by strangulation beforehand.”
Authorities explained that Pieper’s facial injuries may have been sustained as she attempted to escape from inside the suitcase, consistent with someone struggling for air. Alternatively, prosecutors noted that the facial injuries could have resulted from being physically struck or from the act of being transported.
This finding led to widespread headlines describing Pieper as potentially having been “buried alive.” It is important to note that this remains a possibility that has not been confirmed as fact. The formal indictment filed in September 2026 takes the position that Pieper was intentionally killed through strangulation and stab injuries before her body was transported.
Key Forensic Findings:
| Finding | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cause of Death | Strangulation |
| Additional Injuries | Stab and cut wounds to the neck; facial bruising around nose and cheek |
| Open Question | Whether Pieper was alive or dead when placed in the suitcase |
| Facial Injuries | Possibly from physical blows, transport, or struggling inside the suitcase |
The Suspect’s Confession and Why He Later Walked It Back
Patrick M.’s account of what happened has shifted significantly since his arrest.
When initially confronted by investigators with evidence that contradicted his denials, Patrick M. reportedly confessed to strangling Pieper. According to multiple reports citing Austrian and German media, he cited jealousy following the end of their relationship as the reason.
However, he subsequently changed his account. According to reporting by Bild, Patrick M. walked back the specifics of his confession. He acknowledged putting Pieper in a chokehold during a confrontation but denied that he deliberately killed her. As of the September 2026 indictment, the defendant formally denies the murder charge. He does, however, admit to transporting Pieper’s body to Slovenia and burying it in the forest.
This shift is significant for the upcoming trial. The prosecution is moving forward with a full murder charge despite the partial retraction. The indictment alleges that Patrick M. intentionally killed Pieper, using the forensic evidence and the circumstances of the crime to support the charge rather than relying solely on the confession.
The Formal Charges Filed on September 21, 2026
The Graz Public Prosecutor’s Office announced the indictment on September 21, 2026. Patrick M. was charged with two offenses:
- Murder (intentionally killing Stefanie Pieper by strangulation and by inflicting stab and cut wounds to her neck)
- Disturbing the peace of the dead (covering the treatment, transportation, and burial of Pieper’s remains)
The case has been filed with the Landesgericht für Strafsachen Graz (Regional Criminal Court in Graz). Patrick M., described as a previously unconvicted Slovenian national who worked as a nightclub security guard and combat-sports trainer, remains in custody. It is not currently clear whether he has retained legal counsel. His appearance in court is expected later in 2026.
Prosecutors allege that the motive was jealousy following the couple’s split. A more specific motive beyond that description has not been publicly established by authorities.
Who Was Stefanie Pieper? Her Life and Career Before the Tragedy
Stefanie Pieper was a 31-year-old content creator and beauty influencer based in Graz, Austria. She had built an Instagram following of more than 40,000 through her work as a makeup artist, sharing tutorials, beauty tips, and lifestyle content with her audience.
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Beyond social media, Pieper was also an aspiring singer in her native Austria, pursuing music alongside her content creation work. She was described by friends and followers as warm, creative, and deeply connected to her community.
Her relationship with Patrick M. was described in various reports as “on-and-off” and spanning several years. The couple had separated weeks before her death but maintained contact, partly due to their shared dog, Marlow. Friends told media that Pieper had expressed discomfort about the relationship in the period leading up to her death.
Her mother took to social media in the days after her disappearance, publicly pleading for information and help in finding her daughter. The outpouring of support from Pieper’s followers and the broader Austrian public was immediate and widespread.
A Complete Timeline of the Stefanie Pieper Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 23, 2025 | Pieper attends a Christmas party in Graz; sends texts about a “creep in the stairwell” after arriving home; contact is lost |
| November 24, 2025 | Fails to appear at a scheduled photo shoot; reported missing; photographer finds her ex at her apartment; Slovenian police discover Patrick M. near his burning car at a border casino |
| November 24-26, 2025 | Patrick M. detained in Slovenia; Austria requests extradition; brother and stepfather arrested in Graz |
| November 29, 2025 | Pieper’s body found inside a suitcase buried in a forest near Majšperk, Slovenia |
| Late November 2025 | Autopsy confirms strangulation as cause of death; facial injuries documented |
| March 2026 | Graz prosecutors tell Bild that Pieper may have been alive when placed in the suitcase; finding generates international headlines |
| September 21, 2026 | Graz Public Prosecutor’s Office formally charges Patrick M. with murder and disturbing the peace of the dead |
What Happens Next in the Legal Process
With the formal indictment now filed at the Regional Criminal Court in Graz, the case moves toward trial. Several factors will be central to the proceedings.
The retracted confession: The prosecution will need to establish intent and causation through forensic and circumstantial evidence, especially given that the defendant has withdrawn his initial admission of killing Pieper and now claims only to have buried her body.
The forensic ambiguity: The unresolved question of whether Pieper was alive or dead when placed in the suitcase could play a role in how the defense frames its case. If the defense argues that Pieper died after being placed in the suitcase rather than directly from Patrick M.’s actions, it could attempt to challenge the degree of intent.
The roles of the brother and stepfather: While neither is expected to face formal charges, their alleged involvement in moving Pieper’s body may become part of the trial testimony, particularly regarding the logistics and timeline of how the remains were transported from Graz to Slovenia.
The potential sentence: Under Austrian law, a murder conviction carries a penalty of 10 to 20 years or life imprisonment. The additional charge of disturbing the peace of the dead carries its own separate sentencing range.
No trial date has been publicly confirmed as of September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Stefanie Pieper?
Stefanie Pieper, a 31-year-old beauty influencer from Graz, Austria, disappeared on November 23, 2025, after attending a Christmas party. She sent texts to friends about a “creep in the stairwell” before her phone went dark. Her body was discovered six days later inside a suitcase buried in a forest near Majšperk, Slovenia. Her ex-boyfriend, Patrick M., has been charged with her murder.
Who is Patrick M. and what is he charged with?
Patrick M. is a 31-year-old Slovenian national who worked as a nightclub security guard and combat-sports trainer. He is Pieper’s ex-boyfriend. He has been charged with murder and with disturbing the peace of the dead. He initially confessed to strangling Pieper but later retracted that confession and now admits only to burying her body. He denies the murder charge.
Was Stefanie Pieper buried alive?
This has not been confirmed. In March 2026, the Graz prosecutor’s office stated that it was “entirely possible” that Pieper was still alive when placed in the suitcase, based on facial injuries that could indicate she was struggling inside. However, they also said it was equally possible she had already died from strangulation. The formal indictment alleges she was intentionally killed before being transported.
Where was Stefanie Pieper’s body found?
Her body was found on November 29, 2025, inside a suitcase buried in a wooded area near Majšperk, Slovenia, south of Maribor. The location is near the Austrian-Slovenian border. Slovenian authorities located the site after the suspect provided information about the burial location.
When will the trial take place?
No trial date has been publicly announced as of September 2026. The indictment was filed with the Regional Criminal Court in Graz on September 21, 2026. Patrick M. remains in custody and is expected to appear in court later in 2026.
Were other people involved in the crime?
Patrick M.’s brother and stepfather were arrested in November 2025 on suspicion of obstruction of justice, accused of potentially helping move Pieper’s body. As of September 2026, they are not expected to face formal charges.
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Last Updated on September 23, 2026 by 247 News Around The World
