Western New York community gathers to honor life of local woman killed in Budapest

FREDONIA, N.Y. (WIVB) -- The Western New York community came together Saturday night to honor the life of 31-year-old Mackenzie Michalski, a Fredonia native who was killed while traveling in Hungary earlier this week.

Friends and neighbors gathered at the Barker Commons for a candlelight vigil to celebrate the life of Michalski. Words of encouragement were read, prayers were shared and tears were shed as the community leaned on one another. 

Michalski traveled to Hungary as a tourist. According to Budapest police, she met a 37-year-old man from Ireland and went back to his apartment, where police said the man killed her. He was later arrested, confessed to killing her and showed police where he hid her body.

“I just spoke to the parents while they were at the airport leaving for Budapest and just a few hours later, I don't even know if they got there before they found out that her body had been discovered,” said Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson.

Michalski was living in Portland, Oregon, but was originally from Fredonia. 

When members of the community learned about what happened, they were shocked that something so cruel could happen to such a sweet woman.

Melissa Pietrkiewicz, who was friends with Michalski’s mother, Jill, wanted to bring neighbors together to honor Michalski's life.

“When I got the news yesterday, I couldn't not be here doing this because she would do the same for us,” Pietrkiewicz said. “Jill is just that person and her family is wonderful, her children are wonderful.” 

Michalski’s story took the world by storm. A social media group was created where people from Western New York all the way to Budapest were lending a helping hand in any way they could. 

“People are inherently good if you give them a chance to shine and tonight, that's what we're doing, we're holding our light,” Pietrkiewicz said.

While Saturday night's vigil was underway in Fredonia, a vigil was also held almost 5,000 miles away in Budapest where Michalski’s story has touched the hearts of many. 

“Live your life. Keep traveling, keep loving, keep seeing, keep experiencing," Pietrkiewicz said. “Don't let this stop you from living your life and take a little bit of her with you.”

A GoFundMe was initially started to help with the costs of search efforts, but the money that's been donated will now be used for funeral expenses and to help Michalski’s parents with travel expenses to ultimately bring her back home.