Szolnoki was last seen on Tuesday, July 28, the second day of Ozora Festival in Tolna County, Hungary. According to family members, he left the tent where he had been staying with a friend following a personal disagreement, and has not been heard from since. His phone has reportedly been off or unreachable ever since, making it impossible for authorities to trace his location.
His younger brother posted a public appeal on Facebook shortly after, asking anyone who had seen or heard from Bence to come forward. Police subsequently listed him on the national missing-persons registry, where his case remains active.
Family members say Szolnoki led a stable, ordinary life, had no known mental health conditions, and had never previously disappeared or gone silent without explanation – details they say make his continued absence especially alarming.
Description
Police and family describe Szolnoki as:
- Height/Build: 180 cm (about 5’11”) tall, athletic build
- Hair: Long, light brown hair
- Distinctive features: A hoop earring in his left ear; often seen wearing orange sunglasses and a red bandana
At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a green-and-white striped T-shirt, khaki pants, and Converse sneakers with a flame pattern, and was carrying a light-green side bag. Some acquaintances have also mentioned he had a hammock with him.
The Search Widens
By Tuesday, August 11, two weeks after he was last seen, organizers launched a large-scale civilian search effort at the family’s request. Volunteers, neighborhood-watch groups, and anyone able to help were asked to gather at the entrance to the Ozora Festival grounds at 7:00 a.m. and move outward toward the town of Simontornya, focusing on the wooded terrain along the route.
Organizers structured participants into teams for a coordinated “chain search” of the area. Anyone joining midway was asked to register their name, address, and phone number, both for safety and to keep track of who was covering which ground. Volunteers were also asked to bring cold water and refreshments for the search teams.
As part of the investigation into his possible movements, family explored the theory that Szolnoki might have traveled to the MoDem Festival in Croatia. However, MoDem Festival crew members checked their records and confirmed that his name was not on the ticket list. Because the event is completely sold out and strict ID-matching protocols are enforced at entry, officials consider it highly unlikely that he is at the Croatian event.
Despite the expanded effort, no new leads had surfaced as of the latest update. A statement shared by family members noted that the physical search of the immediate Ozora area had been temporarily suspended due to extreme heat, though they stressed the search for Bence is far from over and that a specialized search team is expected to join going forward.
How to Help
Authorities and the family are asking anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
Police Contact:
Szentendre Police Department: +36 26 502 400
Emergency Line: 112
Family Contacts:
Bodnár Imre: +36 30 609 3447
Györe Krisztina: +36 30 290 3591