Kristina Joksimovic, a 38-year-old former model and finalist in the 2007 Miss Switzerland pageant, was allegedly murdered by her husband, Thomas, who is accused of dismembering her body using a jigsaw and garden shears, according to a report from the BBC.
The gruesome crime, which occurred at their home in Binningen, Basel, was discovered on February 13, when Kristina’s body was found.
Court documents revealed shocking details from the post-mortem report, indicating that Thomas had “pureed” parts of her remains using a handheld blender and dissolved them in a chemical solution. Arrested by Basel-Landschaft police, Thomas, 41, confessed to the murder in March but initially claimed self-defense, alleging that his wife had attacked him with a knife. Investigators, however, have questioned his account, citing evidence of his cold behavior, lack of empathy, and signs of sadistic tendencies, as noted by The Telegraph.
Joksimovic, who had transitioned from modeling to become a successful catwalk coach, was described as a “down-to-earth” individual by ‘20min’, a Swiss news outlet that covered her participation in the 2007 Miss Switzerland competition. Her interests included foot volleyball, reading, and watching documentaries, with her hands being noted as her most attractive feature.
The couple, married since 2017, had two children and lived in a well-off neighborhood of Basel. Just weeks before her death, Kristina had shared photos from a romantic trip on Instagram. Despite Thomas’s claims of self-defense, the investigation revealed that Kristina was strangled before she died, contradicting his narrative. He was arrested the day after her body was discovered and initially claimed he had found her dead and dismembered her in a state of panic.
Further investigation revealed possible signs of mental illness in Thomas, according to reports from LBC. The disturbing details of the case have left many who knew the couple shocked, with one friend expressing disbelief, stating they seemed like “the perfect family.”