The cause of death for sisters Henrietta and Eliza Huszti - who went missing in Aberdeen, Scotland, earlier this year - has been revealed.
The sisters - both 32 and originally from Hungary - were part of a set of triplets that includes their surviving sister, Edit Huszti.
Their disappearance and tragic deaths sparked headlines worldwide and left their family searching for answers.
Their bodies were recovered from the River Dee in late January after a weeks-long search.
Now, BBC News has
The Disappearance and Search Efforts
Henrietta, a coffee shop assistant, and Eliza, a hotel housekeeper, were last seen in the early hours of January 7. Surveillance footage captured them walking along Market Street near Victoria Bridge at around 2:12AM, heading toward a river.
Around the same time, Henrietta sent a message to their landlady, stating they would not be returning to their apartment.
Concerned about their sudden disappearance, the landlady found possessions they had left behind, including a mobile phone, and reported them missing to the police the following day, PEOPLE reports.
A massive search effort ensued, involving local officers, specialist search advisors, police dogs, and marine units. Authorities released surveillance footage in hopes of tracking their movements, and extensive searches of the River Dee and Aberdeen’s harbor area were carried out.
Despite these efforts, the search was officially called off on January 27.
However, four days later, on January 31, the body of one of the sisters was found near Queen Elizabeth Bridge at approximately 7:55AM. That same evening, at around 9:05PM officers discovered the second body near Victoria Bridge — just half a mile from the first discovery.
A Family Searching for Answers
Following their deaths, authorities confirmed that there were no apparent suspicious circumstances. However, the Huszti family remains unconvinced that the twins' deaths were accidental.
Their father, Miklos Huszti, strongly denied the possibility of suicide, telling Hungarian media, per The Sun: "I have no idea what happened to my daughters, but I am sure they did not commit suicide. I believe they did not send the SMS to their landlord, but someone else or others who cheated and kidnapped my children. I am sure that someone lured them to the waterfront and cruelly killed them."
Jozsef Huszti, the sisters' brother, also expressed his disbelief over the situation. He revealed that he had spoken to them on a 40-minute call on January 4, just days before their disappearance, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
“We don't understand this whole thing. That they wrote a message to their landlady, that they wanted to immediately end their tenancy agreement. We didn't have any information about that," he said.
Jozsef emphasized that the twins had no financial difficulties and were actually saving up to buy their own property. He described their strong relationship with their mother, saying: "No matter what, they would always be in touch with her, whether they had any problems or good news to share."
Speaking to the Press and Journal, he added: "We want to find out the reason they died. It’s hard, but we would like to know the answers. I truly believe the local police will do their best to do a full investigation and give answers about what happened exactly. My family and I are religious people. We believe that with the help of God, we will learn what happened."
Unanswered Questions Remain
Despite the official ruling of drowning, the circumstances surrounding the twins' deaths remain shrouded in mystery.
Police previously stated they were unsure why the sisters had gone to the river in the freezing early morning hours. The area they walked through was unlit, with steep and icy paths that were difficult to navigate even in daylight.
Although authorities have not found evidence of foul play, the Huszti family remains skeptical. With lingering doubts and unanswered questions, their grief is compounded by the uncertainty of what truly led to the deaths of Henrietta and Eliza.
Our thoughts go out to every person impacted by this tragedy.