"Just awful…": Perez Hilton reacts after beauty influencer Stefanie Pieper's boyfriend allegedly confesses that he strangled her

The disappearance and death of Austrian beauty influencer Stefanie Pieper has prompted widespread shock, with newly released reporting alleging that her ex-boyfriend confessed to killing her.

Stefanie Pieper, 31, was first reported missing on Sunday, November 23, after she failed to show up for a scheduled photoshoot and could not be reached by friends or family according to media reports. According to the Styrian State Police, she had been last seen returning home from a Christmas party that morning.

As reported by PEOPLE on November 27, 2025, her ex-boyfriend was arrested in Slovenia after investigators connected him to several suspicious cross-border trips. By the end of the week, Austrian media, including Kronen Zeitung reported that he allegedly admitted to strangling Pieper and led police to her body in a forest across the border.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton called the developments “just awful” as tributes and unanswered questions continue to mount.

"Just awful… We’re sending love to her family during this difficult time. Hopefully, Stefanie gets some justice…"

More about the timeline of Stefanie Pieper’s disappearance and early investigation

Stefanie Pieper was reportedly last seen on the morning of November 23, 2025, after arriving at her apartment in Graz with a friend following a Christmas party, according to PEOPLE’s reporting from the Styrian State Police. When she failed to appear at a scheduled photoshoot and could not be reached, her family notified the authorities. PEOPLE also reported that Pieper’s dog was found alone in her apartment and her phone was switched off, heightening concern.

Local outlets, cited in both PEOPLE and Perez Hilton’s blog, described two WhatsApp messages Pieper sent shortly after arriving home: one stating she had made it back safely, and another, unexpectedly, warning that she believed someone was in her stairwell.

Neighbors told Kleine Zeitung they heard arguing and allegedly saw her ex-boyfriend in the building around the same time.

As investigators searched for Stefanie Pieper, the Styrian State Police said they grew suspicious of her ex-boyfriend after discovering he had made several recent car trips to Slovenia and could not be contacted by authorities. On the evening of Nov. 24, Slovenian police reported that a vehicle had caught fire in a casino parking lot near the border. It was identified as the ex-boyfriend’s, and he was located nearby and taken into custody. Austrian authorities subsequently requested his extradition, while searches continued in both countries.

Police also confirmed that two members of the man’s family were detained in Austria for questioning. However, a forensic search of the suspect’s car revealed no clues about Stefanie Pieper’s location.

Alleged confession and discovery in Slovenia

By the middle of the week, Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported, cited by Perez Hilton and later confirmed in TMZ’s November 29, 2025 coverage, that the ex-boyfriend allegedly confessed during questioning.

According to those reports, investigators said he admitted to strangling Stefanie Pieper and directed authorities to a location in a forest in Slovenia where he claimed to have hidden her body. Kronen Zeitung also reported that he told police he had concealed her remains inside a suitcase.

TMZ stated that the man had since been extradited to Austria, and that his brother and stepfather were arrested as part of the broader investigation.

Slovenian and Austrian authorities had earlier conducted joint searches in forested areas, but initial sweeps had been unsuccessful, according to the Styrian State Police via PEOPLE. Rumors circulated mid-week on local media suggesting her body had already been found, but at the time, Austrian authorities publicly said they could not confirm those reports.

As of the latest updates, authorities have not released additional details about a potential motive, and formal charges have not yet been specified beyond the arrests reported in both countries.

Edited by Devangee