Miss Switzerland Finalist Allegedly Dismembered, ‘Pureed’ in Blender as Chilling Motive Revealed in Court

A Swiss court on April 4 began hearing the murder case of a man accused of killing his wife, a former Miss Switzerland finalist, in a crime that shook the country.

Marc Rieben is charged with murdering his wife, Kristina Joksimovic, at their home near Basel, Switzerland, in February 2024. Prosecutors say the killing followed a dispute over divorce and custody of their two children.

According to investigators, Joksimovic, a model and a catwalk coach, had asked for a divorce before the incident. Rieben is accused of demanding full custody of their children and refusing to provide financial support during their separation.

Authorities allege that the situation turned violent when Rieben attacked her in a rage. He allegedly grabbed her by the throat, forced her against a wall, and later strangled her. An autopsy found signs of blunt force trauma, along with bruises and cuts.

Prosecutors claim that after her death, Rieben tried to dispose of the body using tools found at the home. Investigators described the act as a deliberate attempt to conceal the crime.

Rieben used garden shears, a knife, and a jigsaw to dismember his wife’s body. Some of her body parts were also torn out and “pureed” in an industrial blender.

However, this was not the heinous part of the crime. The case took a grim turn when Joksimoic’s father went looking for her after she failed to pick up her daughter from kindergarten. When he arrived at the home, Rieben claimed he did not know where she was. He invited her father inside, spoke with him for hours and even cooked dinner.

However, during the visit, her father became suspicious. After speaking with Joksimovic’s mother on the phone, he quietly searched the house. In the basement, he found a black bin bag containing human remains, as described by a family friend.

The father fled the home in shock, screaming aloud until a neighbour called the police. Officers arrived and arrested Riben, who later confessed that he acted in self-defence.

Friends of the victim reported that the couple’s relationship had long been troubled. One friend said Joksimovic was deeply in love at first but later faced criticism and controlling behaviour. "He was really derogatory with her, with gestures, words and even his tone… he wanted Kristina to disappear,” the friend said.

They also said Joksimovic had tried to save the marriage through therapy, but Rieben often refused to attend or left it early. On one occasion, she called the police after he became violent and threatening.

Despite this, her social media posts showed a happy life. Just weeks before her death, she shared photos from a getaway near Lake Lucerne. However, authorities suggest the posts did not reflect the reality of her situation.

The trial, taking place in Muttenz, is expected to last more than five days. Joksimovic’s parents, who discovered her remains, will receive psychiatric care.