A woman from Naperville, Illinois, traveling with a friend in Germany was assaulted and killed by a U.S. man last week, according to reports.
How it started: Eva Liu, 21, and her friend, Kelsey Chang, 22, went on a hike on Wednesday near Bavaria’s Marienbrücke bridge, which offers spectacular views of the historic Neuschwanstein Castle. Along the way, they met a 30-year-old U.S. man who asked them to follow him on a hidden trail that led to a viewpoint.
The assault begins: After luring the women, the suspect, who was also a tourist, allegedly started to attack Liu. Chang attempted to intervene but was choked by the man and pushed down the slope. She managed to hang on a fallen tree. Police say the man then attempted to sexually assault Liu before shoving her next down the slope.
The aftermath: Mountain rescue services located the women by afternoon. Liu was airlifted to a hospital and died of her injuries the following day. Chang, on the other hand, was able to speak to her rescuers. She was taken to a separate hospital and has since been recovering.
About the suspect: The assailant, who has not been identified, had reportedly been staying at the same hotel as his victims. He was arrested shortly after the incident. A witness said he was found with bloody scratches but said nothing to authorities. He now faces murder, attempted murder and attempted sexual offense.
About the victims: Liu and Chang both recently graduated from the University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign. Liu received her bachelor’s degree in computer science, and Chang in computer engineering.
A spokesperson from the university released a statement in response to the tragedy that read: