The 54-year-old suspect was detained early yesterday morning and was last night still in custody being questioned about the disappearance and death of Zsuzsanna Besenyei, who was last seen on Thursday 10 May.
Miss Besenyei’s Ford Fiesta Ghia was found on the beach near La Haule slip the following Monday. Two days later, her body was discovered at Le Pulec beach at the northern end of St Ouen’s Bay.
At a press conference yesterday Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull confirmed that the suspect, who was arrested at a property in St Helier, was known to Miss Besenyei, a Hungarian national who had lived in Jersey for about eight years.
He added: ‘A UK home office pathologist travelled to Jersey last Friday to undertake a post-mortem examination and at this stage her cause of death remains inconclusive.
‘Further works still remain ongoing.
‘We have one suspect in custody at this time. We are keeping an open mind in respect for the potential of any other parties to be involved.’
Police confirmed that Miss Besenyei’s phone had been in use and messages had been sent to friends over the weekend before her body was found, but Det Supt Gull said they could not confirm whether her phone was definitely being used by her.
Det Supt Gull issued an urgent appeal for witnesses who may have seen Miss Besenyei or her blue car between her last positive sighting on Thursday 10 May and when her body was found on Wednesday 16 May.
He said it was ‘really important for us to piece that timeline together’.
Ms Besenyei, who worked in St Helier, is not believed to have any immediate family in the Island and police family liaison officers have been in contact with her family in Hungary.
Up to 20 officers are now working on the investigation, and the police have confirmed they are working on 140 lines of inquiry, including witness statements, CCTV footage and public transport inquiries.
Det Supt Gull added: ‘Our main appeal remains in respect of Zsuzsanna – where was she and her blue Ford Fiesta between Thursday 10 May and Monday 14 May? We are asking anyone with information about Zsuzsanna to please get in touch. They can call us on 612612 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’
