Authorities in southern Germany have apprehended an American man in connection with a distressing incident near Neuschwanstein castle, which resulted in the death of one U.S. tourist and an assault on another, Your Content has learned.
The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday afternoon near the renowned Marienbruecke bridge, offering a picturesque view of Neuschwanstein.
According to police reports, the 30-year-old suspect encountered the two female tourists, aged 21 and 22, while hiking.
He allegedly enticed them onto a trail leading to a viewpoint, where the situation took a horrifying turn. Police spokesman Holger Stabik stated, “The suspect attacked the younger woman, and when the older one rushed to her aid, he choked her before pushing her down a slope.”
Subsequently, the assailant purportedly attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before forcefully pushing her down the steep slope as well.
The fall, spanning nearly 50 meters (165 feet), left her in close proximity to her injured friend.
A mountain rescue team promptly reached both women, with the 22-year-old exhibiting signs of responsiveness and being transported to a nearby hospital.
Unfortunately, the 21-year-old sustained severe injuries and tragically passed away overnight after being airlifted to a different medical facility.
The suspect initially fled the scene but was swiftly apprehended in the vicinity.
Video footage captured by Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate who was present at the scene, shows the detained man being led away by law enforcement, visibly bearing scratches on his face.
Abneri expressed astonishment that anyone could survive such a fall, likening it to plummeting from the top of a precipitous cliff.
He commended the arduous rescue efforts undertaken by the authorities, including the deployment of a helicopter and skilled rescuers.
The arrested individual, identified as an American tourist, is currently in custody, pending a potential indictment.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the suspect or the victims, and investigations are ongoing.
A judge in the nearby town of Kempten has ordered the suspect’s detention on charges of murder, attempted murder, and a sexual offense.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are urging any witnesses to come forward to assist in reconstructing the precise sequence of events.
Neuschwanstein, located near Germany’s border with Austria, is a renowned tourist attraction and the most iconic of King Ludwig II of Bavaria’s 19th-century castles, despite its unfinished state following the monarch’s demise in 1886, according AP News.