The tragic case of beauty influencer Stefanie Pieper has gripped Austria after her body was discovered inside a suitcase in a Slovenian forest. This grim find followed an alleged confession by her former boyfriend.
Stefanie Pieper, 31, was a popular Austrian influencer celebrated for her makeup tutorials, fashion insights, and singing talents on various social media platforms. She went missing after attending a Christmas party on November 23, as confirmed by the Styrian State Police.
According to reports from Kronen Zeitung, a prominent Austrian newspaper, Pieper’s ex-boyfriend confessed to strangling her, concealing her body in a suitcase, and subsequently burying it in the forest. He then guided the authorities to the location of her body.
After the Christmas party, Pieper initially informed a friend that she had reached home safely. However, shortly afterward, she sent another message expressing concern about someone possibly being in her stairwell. Neighbors later reported hearing a commotion and allegedly spotted Pieper’s ex-boyfriend at her residence, as reported by People Magazine and corroborated by local news sources such as Oe24, 20 Minuten, and Kleine Zeitung.
When attempts by her family and colleagues to contact Pieper proved unsuccessful, and she missed work commitments, they alerted the police, prompting an investigation into her disappearance.
When relatives and coworkers were unable to reach Pieper, and she failed to show up for work, they reported her missing, police said.
The influencer’s 31-year-old ex-boyfriend was subsequently arrested in Slovenia after he was found near his burning car, with investigators noting they were unable to contact him.
Police units respond to the scene of an emergency. The influencer’s 31-year-old ex-boyfriend was subsequently arrested in Slovenia after he was found near his burning car, with investigators noting they were unable to contact him. (Getty Images)
“The man is believed to have traveled to Slovenia several times in his car. He could not be contacted by the investigating police,” Styrian State Police said in a statement. “On Monday evening, November 24, 2025, the Slovenian police reported that a car had caught fire in the parking lot of a casino near the border. This was the 31-year-old man’s car.”
Pieper’s ex-boyfriend was extradited to Austria and during questioning, he reportedly agreed to cooperate with authorities, according to Kronen Zeitung.
A view of a forest in Slovenia on Sept. 18, 2023. Pieper was reportedly found dead in a Slovenian forest, following an alleged confession from her ex-boyfriend. (Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The Styrian State Police confirmed that two male relatives of the suspect have also been arrested in connection with the case.
Styrian State Police did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
