The Canton of Bern police department confirmed shortly after the discovery that the woman had been brutally attacked. 

The Austrian chef, referred to by the Swiss media as Claudia B, was last seen arriving at her home in Bäch in Canton Schwyz on Friday late afternoon, laden with shopping bags.

It is unclear how she came to be so far from home, but it is understood that the wig found next to the body was hers. She had apparently owned a variety of wigs to cover up hair loss.

The police are unclear whether Claudia was murdered by someone she had a relationship with, or whether she was a random victim murdered after a chance encounter. 

Claudia was single at the time of her death, her previous millionaire boyfriend having passed away some years earlier, online news website Blick reported.

She lived alone in an expensive apartment and had established a successful business, cooking for people in their homes.

“She knew her craft. She could cook superbly. She was a very affable, vibrant personality. And very professional,” Claudia’s 57-year-old friend, artist Al Meier, told Blick.

Investigations are underway at the Institute of Forensic Medicine to try to determine the cause of death.