Stefanie Pieper, the Austrian beauty influencer and makeup artist, has been found dead in a forest in Slovenia, days after she was reported missing.
According to Austrian outlet Kronen Zeitung, Pieper’s body was discovered after investigators said her ex-boyfriend had admitted to strangling her and led police to the remote location where he had hidden her remains.
Slovenian authorities detained the man earlier in the week and have since extradited him back to Austria. His brother and stepfather have also been arrested in connection with the case.
Pieper, who lived in Graz, was last seen on November 23, after returning home from a Christmas party. Local police say she got out of a taxi with a friend near her apartment that morning but never made it to a scheduled photoshoot later that day. When she didn’t show up, her family and colleagues contacted authorities.
Officers who checked her home found her dog alone in the apartment and discovered that her phone had been turned off, early signs that something was wrong.
On Wednesday (November 26), the Styrian State Police issued a missing-person alert, confirming that Pieper hadn’t reported to work and could not be reached. They also announced that they were searching for her ex-boyfriend, who had become the prime suspect. Police say the 31-year-old man had made multiple trips between Austria and Slovenia in recent days and had stopped responding to investigators.
On Monday evening (November 24), Slovenian police were called to a casino parking lot near the national border, where a car had suddenly burst into flames. The vehicle belonged to Pieper’s ex. Officers found him nearby and took him into custody.
Authorities say he later guided investigators to the forested area where Pieper’s body was ultimately found. Austrian officials have requested his full extradition, and the investigation is ongoing.
