An American man has been arrested for pushing two U.S. tourists into a ravine at a German castle, leading to one’s death.
The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon near Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Germany when a 30-year-old man met two women, aged 21 and 22, on a hiking path. He then lured them to a point near the Marienbruecke, a historic bridge over a gorge that offers views of the castle.
“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect,” police spokesman Holger Stabik told the Associated Press. “The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope.”
The suspect allegedly tried to sexually assault the younger woman before pushing her into the ravine, too. Both women fell about 165 feet.
A mountain rescue team found the 22-year-old “responsive” and she was transported to a hospital. The 21-year-old was helicoptered to another hospital with serious injuries but died overnight.
The 22-year-old woman remains hospitalized.
The suspect fled but was arrested nearby and has been jailed on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense. He will remain in custody until he is indicted.
The suspect and the victims were not identified.
The U.S. Embassy in Germany told CNN “the consulate in Munich is monitoring the situation closely.”