A man allegedly murdered his former Miss Switzerland spouse after she expressed her desire for a divorce, according to reports. Marc Rieben, aged 43, reportedly insisted on gaining full custody of their two children and refused to provide any financial assistance to his ex-wife Kristina Joksimovic, aged 38, during their separation discussions, as detailed in a legal filing from the Baselland Public Prosecutor’s Office. Allegations of ongoing abuse were made by friends of Kristina, citing a history of violence directed at her.
The fatal incident occurred in February 2024 when Rieben reportedly killed Kristina in a fit of rage. Following the murder, he dismembered her body, and an autopsy revealed that some of her body parts were “pureed” in an industrial blender. The examination indicated signs of blunt force trauma, bruises on her legs, cuts on her face, and hair that had been forcibly removed.
According to court documents, the murder took place immediately after a dispute over their divorce proceedings. The altercation escalated, leading Rieben to fatally strangle Kristina with a ribbon-like object. Subsequently, her body was dismembered using garden shears, a knife, and a jigsaw, with reports suggesting that Rieben watched YouTube videos on his phone during the gruesome act.
Investigators alleged that Rieben deliberately removed Kristina’s womb from her body, describing it as a deliberate act of mutilation or ritualistic degradation. Prior to Rieben’s upcoming trial, close friends of Kristina disclosed intimate details about their relationship, expressing concerns about Rieben’s behavior and treatment of her.
Kristina’s father made a horrifying discovery in the basement of their home in Basel after she failed to pick up their children from kindergarten. Upon investigating, he found a bin bag containing his daughter’s severed head. Rieben initially claimed self-defense, stating that Kristina attacked him with a knife, leading to her death, and the subsequent mutilation of her body was done in a panicked state. However, a forensic psychologist refuted his claim, highlighting that typical victims of sudden attacks usually seek immediate help from authorities.
The trial is scheduled to commence in Muttenz, Switzerland, tomorrow and is anticipated to span five-and-a-half days.
