Austrian beauty influencer Stefanie Pieper has been discovered dead in a forest in Slovenia, with her ex-boyfriend reportedly admitting to her murder. The 31-year-old was last seen on November 23, 2025, at a holiday gathering. Her friends reported her missing three days later after she failed to arrive for a scheduled modeling job and could not be contacted.
Investigators have indicated that Stefanie’s ex-boyfriend, who was taken into custody shortly after her disappearance, confessed to strangling her and subsequently led authorities to the location of her body. The suspect has been extradited from Slovenia back to Austria, where law enforcement has also arrested his brother and stepfather in connection to the case.
Timeline of Events
On November 24, police apprehended the man as he stood near his burning vehicle in a casino parking lot close to the Austrian-Slovenian border. Authorities collected border crossing data showing that he had made multiple trips between the two countries in recent days, raising further suspicions.
According to a press release from the Slovenian police, “On Monday evening, November 24, 2025, a car was reported to have caught fire.” The report confirmed that it was the suspect’s vehicle, and he was arrested shortly thereafter. Requests for his extradition to Austria were filed as the investigation unfolded.
Reports from local media outlets, including Kronen Zeitung, detail that Stefanie had communicated with a friend via WhatsApp shortly after returning home, indicating she felt someone was in her stairwell. This alarming message was followed by arguments heard by neighbors, who also reported seeing her ex-boyfriend in the vicinity.
Ongoing Investigation
Following the murder, the Styrian State Police provided an update confirming the arrests of two of the ex-boyfriend’s family members. Authorities stated, “The detainees are in police custody and are being questioned.” The investigation is currently active in both Slovenia and Austria, with police coordinating closely between the two nations.
Forensic examinations of the ex-boyfriend’s vehicle have not provided any evidence regarding Stefanie’s whereabouts. Police continue to search the Slovenian area where her body was found, although initial operations have yet to yield significant results.
As this tragic situation develops, both the local communities and authorities remain alert, working diligently to uncover further details surrounding this case. The loss of Stefanie Pieper, a vibrant figure in the beauty industry, has deeply affected many who knew her and the wider online community.
