A former Miss Switzerland finalist was allegedly murdered and dismembered by her husband, who allegedly blended her remains in a horrific attempt to conceal the crime, a Swiss court has heard.
Mother-of-two Kristina Joksimovic, 38, was found dead in February in Binningen, near Basel.
Local authorities revealed that her husband, referred to in reports by the pseudonym Thomas, 41, was arrested the following day after her dismembered body was discovered by a third party. Investigators determined she had been strangled before her death.
Court records show that Thomas confessed to the killing, claiming he acted in self-defence, stating that Kristina allegedly attacked him with a knife.
However, a forensic report contradicts this account, revealing evidence that the former beauty queen was strangled.
The gruesome nature of the incident came to light as it was revealed that Joksimovic’s body was allegedly dismembered in the couple’s laundry room using a jigsaw, knife, and garden shears.
In a terrifyingly gruesome twist, her remains were then allegedly “pureed” using a hand blender before being dissolved in a chemical solution, according to local news outlet Blick.
Thomas reportedly admitted to dismembering Kristina’s body in a panic after the murder. According to investigators, he displayed a “conspicuously high level of criminal energy, lack of empathy, and cold-bloodedness” as he attempted to cover up the crime.
The case has shocked the local community and those who knew Kristina. Some friends have expressed disbelief, with one telling Blick: “To me, they seemed like the perfect family.”
However, another friend revealed the couple had reportedly been in crisis for several months prior to the tragedy.
Kristina, who had Serbian roots, first rose to fame in 2003 after winning the Miss Northwest Switzerland pageant. In 2008, she became a finalist in the Miss Switzerland competition and later trained aspiring models, including Lorena Santen, Miss Switzerland 2023, who said: “We will miss you so much.”
Former Miss Switzerland Christa Rigozzi shared her sorrow, telling 20 Minuten: “It’s terrible. I’m really shocked. I’m thinking of her two daughters. She was such a beautiful and kind-hearted woman.”
“It is very, very sad and shocking what has happened”, Swiss model Dominique Rinderknecht added. “I am also so incredibly sorry for the children.”
Kristina’s husband remains in custody following the rejection of his appeal for release by the Federal Court in Lausanne. The case continues to unfold as authorities further investigate the case and the suspect’s claims of self-defence.
If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic abuse, please call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline for confidential support on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk.
If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info, visit www.aafda.org.uk.