Brutal murder in Budapest: Man kills wife and cuts off her finger – The reason will shock you
Hungarian and Slovak authorities have closed an international manhunt in connection with a brutal murder. 45-year-old Balázs N., who killed his wife with multiple stab wounds in their Újpest apartment last December and then cut off one of her thumbs, was finally arrested in Bratislava.
The murder and mutilation
On 15 December 2024, a 52-year-old woman was found dead in her Újpest home. She had suffered multiple stab and slash wounds. Investigators quickly determined that the attacker was not a stranger: the police immediately suspected the victim’s husband, 45-year-old Balázs N., according to a police statement.
The man not only murdered his wife but also cut off one of her thumbs. The shocking motive behind the mutilation: he intended to use her fingerprint to access her mobile banking account. Police reports indicate that he transferred several hundred thousand forints to himself after gaining access.
Escape and arrest: he was barely recognisable
After the murder, Balázs N. went on the run. A domestic arrest warrant was issued, which was later extended to a European and international search. The investigation involved the Budapest Police Department’s Wanted Persons Unit and the International Criminal Cooperation Centre.
He was finally apprehended by Slovak police on 20 July 2025 in Bratislava. At the time of his arrest, he was barely recognisable: he had shaved his head and grown a beard, bearing little resemblance to his wanted photo. On 27 August, he was handed over to Hungarian authorities at Rajka.
Confession
At the Budapest Police Department’s Homicide Unit, Balázs N. was questioned on suspicion of murder, robbery, and fraud committed using an information system. He confessed to the crimes, was taken into custody, and his pre-trial detention was requested.
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