A 28-year-old Austrian citizen of Egyptian descent has been arrested in Vienna in connection with the gruesome murder of a businessman whose body was discovered stuffed in a suitcase on the street.
Hamza E. was detained late on March 6 in the Favoriten district of the Austrian capital following an extensive investigation into the body found by a member of the public just off Quellenstrasse on Feb. 28.
The victim was identified as 59-year-old Christian Sch.
A post-mortem analysis showed that almost all of his bones were broken and one foot had been protruding from the suitcase but had been covered up by a jacket.
Forensic examinations revealed that the victim, who had been residing in a luxury hotel in Döbling, had been strangled to death — likely using a towel or belt — before being forcibly compressed into the suitcase.
Investigators are pursuing leads that point to financial disputes and a personal relationship between the victim and suspect as potential motives, with OE24 reporting that significant debts were involved.
Investigators believe the method of body disposal — wrapping it in plastic and abandoning it in a suitcase in a public space — suggests the killer struggled with how to handle the remains rather than an attempt to send a message.
Upon learning of the arrest, the suspect’s shocked father immediately secured legal representation for his son.
The investigation by the Vienna State Criminal Police Office continues.
