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The remains of a 34-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter have been located inside freezing appliances in an flat in the western part of Austria.

The deceased, a woman from Syria and her child, who had been missing for several months, were found on the end of last week. The freezers were hidden behind a false wall in the apartment, located in the Innsbruck area.

Two men, a Austrian man, 55 and his 53-year-old brother, were taken into custody in June. The 55-year-old, a colleague of the female victim, stated to law enforcement last week that there had been an accident—but denied homicide.

Informing reporters previously, a official for the public prosecutor's office said the two suspects were being held on "serious suspicion of intentional killing".

Personal details of those involved have not been released by law enforcement, in accordance with local legislation.

Their going missing was first reported by the female victim's relative, who is based in Germany, on July 25, 2024.

Police stated the 55-year-old suspect claimed at the time she had embarked on an prolonged visit with her child to travel to her relatives in Turkey.

The mother's debit card was then found to have been used abroad repeatedly.

But when police searched the mother's apartment, her cellphone was located.

A witness also reported overhearing a disturbing sound in the flat, and cries of "mother" on the day the pair were believed to have vanished.

A broader official inquiry was started, with investigators finding multiple communications sent from the victim's mobile—including a job termination message to her company and communications to the male associate.

Officials confirmed a four-figure sum was also sent to the individual.

A senior police official stated to media representatives on Tuesday that a storage unit had been leased before the mother and child went missing and a cooling unit had been positioned inside.

The male siblings removed the cooling unit from the unit on the very day the woman and her child went missing, the official stated. And a shortly afterward, they acquired another freezer.

Authorities believe they believe this indicates the demise were intentionally orchestrated.

"The reason for their demise could not be determined due to the condition of the bodies," she said.

A legal representative—representing the state—said the precise timeline is still unclear, but the bodies were professionally hidden and went unnoticed during a previous house search.

Although the suspects were arrested in the summer, it was not until November 12 that the suspect confessed to an event and to hiding the bodies. He rejects any plan to cause death, officials confirmed.

In a related development, his brother confessed to a cover-up but disputed knowledge of a homicide.

The two suspects are presently in detention before court proceedings in detention centers in Innsbruck and Salzburg, around 117 miles (189km) apart.

Through a combined announcement, Austria's Minister for Women and the top legal representative stated the "suspected killing of two... constitutes the abrupt and violent termination of two individuals and uncovers a heartless setup".

"Women and girls are falling victim to homicide due to the simple reality that they are female," they added.

"Murders of women are a profoundly embedded and issue affecting all of society that we must fight resolutely."