2023-06-16 23:21:21
Police in southern Germany are requesting photos and videos of an attack near Neuschwanstein Castle in which two women were pushed down a steep slope, killing one of them. A suspect was detained following the attack.
The women, both recent graduates from the University of Illinois, were identified as 21-year-old Eva Liu of Naperville and 22-year-old Kelsey Chang of Bloomington.
Liu was killed in the attack, while Chang survived and is currently recovering at a hospital, where police say she is “receptive.”
German news agency DPA quoted police as saying on Friday that they have so far received around a dozen submissions in a specially created websitebut they assume that many more images were taken by tourists present at the site.
“We are looking for photographs that happen to show two young women and one man (approximately 30 years old) staying east of the Marienbruecke,” Kempten police said on their website. “These people may have been walking together or apart.”
The attack happened Wednesday followingnoon near the busy tourist site. It took place near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a ravine from which you get a famous view of Neuschwanstein.
The 30-year-old man met the two tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a trail and lured them onto a path that leads to a scenic viewpoint, police said.
According to the initial police investigation, the suspect encountered the two tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking trail and lured them onto a path leading to a lookout.
“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect,” police spokesman Holger Stabik said. “The eldest tried to run to her aid, then she was choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope.”
The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before also pushing her down the slope, prosecutors said. She fell almost 165 feet and ended up near her friend.
Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers. Liu was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries and later died, while Chang remains hospitalized.
Robin Kaler, associate chancellor of the University of Illinois, offered the following statement to NBC Chicago:
“I can confirm that Kelsey Chang earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering in May 2023, and Eva Y Liu earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in May 2023. Our University of Illinois family is mourning the senseless death of Ms. Liu and the attack on Ms. Chang Both had just graduated in May and should have been able to celebrate such an important achievement without fear of such a tragic outcome Our thoughts are with Ms. Chang as she recovers and their families while grieving.”
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