german tourist killed

American man pushed 2 U.S. tourists into ravine at German castle, killing one woman, police say

An American man has been arrested in the death of a U.S. tourist and an assault on another near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany after he allegedly pushed the two women down a steep slope, authorities said Thursday.

The incident near the popular tourist attraction happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.

The 30-year-old man met the two female tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint, police said in a statement.

He then “physically attacked” the younger woman, police said. When her companion tried to intervene, he choked her and pushed her down a steep slope.

The assailant then appears to have attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well. She fell nearly 165 feet, ending up close to her friend.

A mountain rescue team reached both women. The 22-year-old was “responsive” and taken to a hospital, police said; a helicopter carried the 21-year-old to a different hospital with serious injuries, and she died there overnight.

The suspect left the scene but was arrested quickly nearby. Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Witness Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who shot the video, said the man appeared to have scratches across his face.

“He did not say a single word. He didn’t open his mouth; he didn’t mumble,” Abneri told The Associated Press. “He just walked with the police and that was it.”

Abneri said he and friends arrived at the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they saw rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff,” he said.

Abneri described it as “a very, very difficult rescue because of those cliffs and because the helicopter came mere feet above the tree line at the top of the hill.”

“They did an unbelievable job,” he said.

Police said the man they arrested was American and described him as also a tourist; prosecutors said the women were fellow U.S. citizens. The 22-year-old remained hospitalized Thursday, according to prosecutors.

Authorities didn’t identify either the suspect or the victims or give any further details.

Police said a judge in nearby Kempten on Thursday ordered the suspect held pending a potential indictment — a process that can take months — and he was taken to jail. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense.

Police said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.

Neuschwanstein, located in southern Bavaria close to Austria’s border, is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions.

It is the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century. Construction started in 1869 but was never completed. Ludwig died in 1886.

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An American is arrested over the death of a U.S. tourist at a German castle

The Associated Press

Authorities say a tourist has died after a man attacked her and a companion near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany. The incident near the popular tourist attraction close to the Austrian border happened Wednesday afternoon. Frank Rumpenhorst/AP hide caption

Authorities say a tourist has died after a man attacked her and a companion near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany. The incident near the popular tourist attraction close to the Austrian border happened Wednesday afternoon.

BERLIN — Police in southern Germany are appealing for photos and videos taken by witnesses of an attack near Neuschwanstein castle in which an American man allegedly pushed two women down a steep slope, killing one of them. A suspect was arrested following the attack.

German news agency dpa quoted police as saying Friday that they have so far received about a dozen submissions on a specially created website , but assume many more images were taken by tourists present at the site.

"We are looking for photographs which, by chance, show two young women and a man (approx. 30 years old) who were staying east of the Marienbruecke," Kempten police said on their website. "These persons may have been walking together or separately."

In this image taken from video, a suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany on Thursday. An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two U.S. tourists near the castle and then pushing them down a steep slope. Eric Abneri/AP hide caption

In this image taken from video, a suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany on Thursday. An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two U.S. tourists near the castle and then pushing them down a steep slope.

The Marienbruecke, or Mary's Bridge, is a popular vantage point for photos of Neuschwanstein, the most famous of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century.

According to the initial police investigation, the suspect met the two female tourists, Americans aged 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint.

"The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect," police spokesman Holger Stabik said. "The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then 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 pushing her down the slope as well, prosecutors said. She fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.

Both women were recovered by mountain rescuers. The 21-year-old was flown to a hospital with serious injuries and later died. The 22-year-old remains hospitalized, but is "responsive," police said.

Authorities haven't named either of the victims or given any further details.

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Frank Rumpenhorst/AP hide caption

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023.

The suspect, who likewise was not identified, remains in custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, prosecutors said, adding it wasn't clear how long he had been in the country.

The U.S. Embassy in Berlin said it was aware of the incident and the consulate in Munich was in contact with authorities.

"Due to privacy considerations, we are unable to comment further at this time," the embassy said in a statement.

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Watch CBS News

Police appeal for photos and video after American arrested in fatal attack near German castle

By Haley Ott

Updated on: June 16, 2023 / 9:22 AM EDT / CBS News

German police were appealing Friday for photos and video in relation to an attack near a castle in Germany that left a 21-year-old American dead and her 22-year-old friend injured when they were allegedly assaulted by another American tourist. Police in the southeast German state of Bavaria confirmed to CBS News that a U.S. national was arrested in connection with the incident, and Stefan Rinke, the Mayor of Schwangau, in Bavaria, told local media that all three people involved were American.

The women were hiking near Neuschwanstein Castle, which served as the inspiration for the castle in Disney's movie "Cinderella," when they met a 30-year-old man who told them to follow him down a trail leading to a secret viewpoint.

When the two women followed him, the suspect attacked the 21-year-old victim, police spokesperson Holger Stabik said. Her friend tried to intervene and the man choked her and pushed her down a steep slope. He then attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old, Stabik said, before pushing her down the slope as well.

Both women fell approximately 165 feet.

Rescue workers found the two women and the 21-year-old was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where she died of her injuries. Stabik told CBS News on Friday that the 22-year-old woman suffered minor injuries and was expected to be released from the hospital later in the day.

"The perpetrator at first moved away from the scene of the crime after the assault," Stabik told journalists on Thursday. "Whether this was a classic escape or not is not entirely known. In any case, he was then arrested a short time later by police officers on the basis of a witness tip in the immediate vicinity of the crime."

Eric Abneri was visiting Neuschwanstein Castle from New York and captured video of the suspect being led away by police on his phone.

"His face was covered in deep red scratch marks and his neck as well," Abneri told CBS News on Thursday. "There was clearly a struggle there, and he just had a frown on his face. He didn't say anything. He had a sort of disturbed look."

A spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Berlin told CBS News on Thursday that it was "aware of an incident involving multiple individuals" but declined to provide further information citing "privacy considerations."   

The official said the embassy was communicating with German authorities on the matter.

CBS News' Anna Noryskiewicz in Berlin and Emmet Lyons in London contributed to this report.

Haley Ott is the CBS News Digital international reporter, based in the CBS News London bureau.

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Crime and Public Safety | California man convicted of execution-style…

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Crime and public safety | 49ers wide receiver ricky pearsall shot in san francisco, crime and public safety, crime and public safety | california man convicted of execution-style slaying of german tourist in 1996 to be released from prison, daughter of victim, a rancho palos verdes resident, says thongxay nilakout could soon be free.

The California Board of Parole Hearings on Tuesday, June 20, reaffirmed a two-member panel’s December recommendation to parole Thongxay Nilakout, who in 1994 fatally shot and robbed 64-year-old Gisela Pfleger and wounded her husband, Klaus Pfleger, who was 62 at the time.

In May, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the full parole board to review the panel’s recommendation to ensure Nilakout’s release doesn’t pose a public safety danger.

Newsom cited Nilakout’s prison psychological evaluation as the reason for the review.

“The psychologist found that Mr. Nilakout’s deficits in awareness and understanding related to the … crime and other more recent negative behavior remain present, but seem to be decreasing,” Newsom said in ordering the full board review. “While this is an encouraging sign that Mr. Nilakout has made progress in rehabilitation, I ask the full board to assess whether Mr. Nilakout has sufficiently mitigated his risk factors and whether his release on parole is consistent with public safety.”

When the Board of Parole Hearings affirms a panel’s recommendation for parole, an inmate automatically begins the process for release.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, citing security and safety protocols, declined Wednesday to disclose when Nilakout might be freed.

However, Birte Pfleger of Rancho Palos Verdes, who is Gisela Pfleger’s daughter, believes that Nilakout’s release may be imminent, adding that he intends to live in Banning.

“He has said that he will go back to where he grew up,” she said in a phone interview Wednesday. “It’s devastating to the community of Banning, which will have a murderer” living among residents.

Birte Pfleger told the Board of Parole Hearings on Tuesday that Nilakout’s only jobs in prison have been as a gardener, barber and porter, adding he is ill-equipped to function in society.

“He has not furthered his education, although Solano State Prison offers over 300 college courses,” she said in a statement to the board. “Student success and retention rates at Solano are higher for incarcerated people than for students enrolled in on-campus courses. Mr. Nilakout must demonstrate his ability to pursue his goals, which will also address the danger of anti-social behavior.”

Nilakout, 17 years old at the time of the crime, was originally sentenced in 1996 to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

However, in 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life-without-parole sentences are unconstitutional for juvenile offenders. Justices ruled children are constitutionally different from adults for sentencing purposes, noting that their lack of maturity and an underdeveloped sense of responsibility can lead to recklessness, impulsiveness and risk-taking.

About 2,000 juvenile inmates nationwide serving mandatory life-without-parole sentences, including Nilakout, were affected by the decision. Nilakout was denied parole in 2019.

Nilakout’s accomplice, Khamchan Bret Ketsouvannasane, who was 19 at the time of the murder, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and remains incarcerated. A third defendant, getaway driver Xou Yang — also then 19 and described by authorities as the “mastermind” of the robbery — pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and received 25 years to life in prison. He has since been paroled.

All three men had immigrated from Laos and were living in Banning when they hatched the robbery plot.

Birte Pfleger has said she was studying for her master’s degree in history at Cal State Long Beach when her parents came from Germany to visit her on Friday, May 13, 1994. Over the weekend, she took them to the J. Paul Getty Museum and Universal CityWalk.

However, on Monday, May 16, the Los Angeles area was enshrouded in “June gloom,” a weather pattern that causes cloudy, overcast skies and cool temperatures. Birte Pfleger suggested that her parents drive to Idyllwild, where the skies would be clearer and the scenery picturesque.

The Pflegers were robbed and attacked while photographing flowers at a scenic overlook on Highway 243, about a half-mile from Lake Fulmor. A photograph taken by Klaus Pfleger just moments before the shooting shows his wife carrying a pair of binoculars.

Miraculously, he was able to drive to Lake Fulmor and, although unable to talk, managed to scribble a note stating that he was German and was able to direct authorities to the location of his dead wife, Birte Pfleger said. After undergoing surgery at Desert Regional Medical Center, he also provided a precise description of the attackers and their vehicle, she added.

Police received tips from Banning’s Hmong community that led them to the attackers several days after the shooting.

Birte Pfleger, a history professor at Cal State Los Angeles, has purposely avoided telling her now 91-year-old father, whom she will visit in Germany this weekend, about Nilakout’s parole.

“There is no benefit to him knowing that the man who killed his wife and almost killed him will be released,” she said.

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Home » UPDATE: Three suspects in court for murder of German tourist

UPDATE: Three suspects in court for murder of German tourist

Three suspects have appeared in the Kabokweni magistrate’s court in connection with the murder of German tourist, Jörg Schnarr.

Three suspects have appeared in the Kabokweni magistrate’s court in connection with the murder of German tourist, Jörg Schnarr .

ALSO READ: German tourist SHOT and KILLED en route to Kruger National Park

TOURISTS ATTACKED NEAR KRUGER PARK

On the afternoon of 3 October 2022, a group of German tourists was attacked on their way to a lodge inside the Kruger National Park . The body of Jörg Schnarr was found near the Numbi gate.

As previously reported, the suspects instructed the tourists to open the doors of their vehicle, but instead the driver reportedly locked all the doors. One of the suspects then shot him in the upper body through the window.

Further reports claim the victims’ vehicle drove in reverse for about 100 metres before crashing into the wall of Heroes Academy. The suspects sped off in their vehicle without taking anything from the tourists.

• ALSO READ: JUST IN: Three in police custody for murder of German tourist

THREE SUSPECTS WILL REMAIN IN CUSTODY

Napoleon Joseph Nyalunga (35), Marshall Cebo Mambo (38) and Bongumusa Fortune Matsane (25) appeared in court for their formal bail application.

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the suspects had a swift appearance as their legal representative left the courthouse before the procedure. As a result, they could not apply for bail.

• ALSO READ: UPDATE: Another three arrested for MURDER of German tourist

The suspects will remain in custody until their next appearance in court on 16 February 2023.

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German tourist killed in stabbing near Eiffel Tower in Paris

A 26-year-old French citizen arrested in connection with the stabbing that killed one person and wounded two others.

A German tourist has been killed and two other people wounded in a knife attack close to the iconic Eiffel Tower in central Paris, according to the French interior minister.

“A man attacked a couple who were foreign tourists. A German tourist who was born in the Philippines died from the stabbing,” Gerald Darmanin said on Sunday, adding that “he will now have to answer for his actions before justice” for the attack that took place at about 19:00 GMT on Saturday.

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The attacker was known to authorities and was being treated for mental illness, Darmanin said.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said the attacker, a 26-year-old French citizen, has been arrested and an investigation has been launched.

The “anti-terrorism” prosecutor’s office said it had not yet been put in charge of an investigation.

Darmanin said the man had already been sentenced in 2016 to four years in prison for planning another attack which he failed to carry out.

‘Never’ give in to ‘terrorism’

“I send all my condolences to the family and loved ones of the German national who died this evening during the terrorist attack,” President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on X that her country “will cede nothing in the face of terrorism … never”.

The incident comes less than eight months before the Olympic Games in Paris, prompting concerns about the security measures for the upcoming global sporting event.

The city is gearing up for the opening ceremony on the Seine River, which is expected to attract up to 600,000 spectators.

France has been under a heightened alert for possible attacks since October, when a teacher was fatally stabbed in the northern city of Arras by a former student originally from the Ingushetia region in Russia’s Caucasus Mountains.

That fatal attack came three years after another teacher was killed outside Paris, beheaded by a Chechen, and who was later killed by police.

News | World

German tourist shot dead during dream holiday in South Africa when car ambushed

A German tourist was shot dead in cold blood when his car was ambushed by an armed gang on the first day of a dream holiday with friends in South Africa .

The victim was in the people carrier with a woman believed to be his wife and another German couple and were just 25 miles from the Kruger National Park .

As they drove through a township area of a farming village at White River in Mpumalanga Province a VW Caddy pulled in front of their Hyundai Staria.

Three men believed to be in camouflage gear jumped out with guns having forced the German tourists to a halt and screamed:”Open the doors!”.

When the driver hit a button centrally locking all four doors it is believed the ringleader fired at least one shot through the window into the driver.

He had already put the car into reverse and then sped backwards 100 yards crashing into a school wall as the panicking gunmen made their getaway.

Tragically the driver had been so badly shot in the upper body his partner and friends could do nothing for him and he died almost instantly at the scene.

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene but could do nothing to help him and launched a huge manhunt for the gang who shot him dead.

The brutal murder of the German and the terror inflicted on those in the car with him will horrify South African tourist chiefs who are just rebuilding their market after Covid.

One of the first responders said:”It was a really bad gunshot wound and due to the blood we could not tell initially whether it was just one shot or more.

“His wife or partner was incredibly distressed and I have never seen in all my years anybody so distressed and it was an incredibly upsetting situation.

“There was a lot of blood and screaming and as you can imagine the tourists were hysterical but nothing that could be done to save his life” he said.

It is thought the group had just flown in from Germany to Johannesburg and were making the 250-mile drive to the Mdluli Lodge for a safari holiday.

The Mdluli Lodge is just inside the Kruger National Park’s Numbi Gate and they were just 25 miles away from its safety when they were ambushed at 4.30pm.

Just inside the gate 5 miles along a dirt track is the Mdluli Lodge which has 50 luxury tents at £289 each per night overlooking a river with game viewing.

Guests go out twice daily on 4 x 4 safari jeeps to view the Big 5 of elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard with gourmet dining at lunch and dinner.

Tragically the German tourists were just 45 minutes from their destination.

Police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohala said:”Four German tourists were stopped by three armed suspects who ordered them to open the doors.

“The driver reportedly locked all the doors and one of the suspects shot him in the upper body through the window as the driver went into reverse.

“He reversed the vehicle about 100 metres and crashed into a school wall but it would seem he by then had died on the spot as a result of the shooting.

“The suspects sped off in their car without taking anything with them” he said.

Mpumalanga Police Provincial Commander Lieutenant General Semakeleng Manamela condemned the cowardly attack and promised to give justice.

She said:”This attack on a group of tourists was really cruel and uncalled for especially given the economic challenges which our country is facing now.

“When one has tourists then it is the tourist sector that is benefitting in a way which gives a boost to our struggling economy which it needs.

“We call on our citizens who might have seen or heard or have any information about these criminals to come forward so we can bring swift justice”.

In 2020 German restauranteur Eduard Neumeister, 67, was hacked to death as he opened up his eatery in South Africa for breakfast to his customers.

He died in a hail of blows at the Bratwurst Sausage Restaurant in Balgowan, 70 miles north of Durban which he ran with his partner Margit Riebler, 62.

South Africa is said to be one of the most dangerous places in the world with 67 murders a day and 115 reported rapes but tourist murders are rare.

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Man arrested in killing of U.S. tourist on cliff near German castle

The 30-year-old is in custody after allegedly pushing two female tourists off a cliff near Neuschwanstein Castle

German police arrested a 30-year-old U.S. man in the killing and attempted sexual assault of an American tourist last week near Neuschwanstein Castle , a popular tourist attraction in Bavaria.

Police said he pushed two women down a 150-foot drop close to the edge of a pedestrian bridge that overlooks the castle in southern Germany outside the village of Schwangau.

A 21-year-old woman died in the hospital after the Füssen mountain rescue service retrieved her with a helicopter, police said . Her 22-year-old friend, whom police said the suspect choked when she intervened in the attack, survived the fall. The man and both women are U.S. citizens, the Associated Press reported . Their identities were not released by officials.

This week, family members and a church leader identified the victims as recent graduates of the University of Illinois. Eva Liu, 21, died in the incident, according to the Rev. Mark Zhang of Living Water Evangelical Church in Naperville, Ill. The family attended the church and Liu’s parents told him that she had been killed, the AP reported . Kelsey Chang, 22, of Normal, Ill., survived the attack and was reportedly on a flight back to the United States on Tuesday. The suspect is from Michigan, according to the AP and ABC 7 Chicago .

According to police, the three tourists met on a hiking trail east of the Marienbrücke bridge in the German Alps, and the man lured the two women to a trail out of public view. Police suspect he attempted a sexual attack on the 21-year-old, and he choked and pushed the 22-year-old when she tried to intervene.

At Neuschwanstein, there was a rescue of multiple people from a helicopter and one was taken out in handcuffs, seemingly after they fell from a cliff and climbed over railings. pic.twitter.com/yVGqqSRlwX — Eric Abneri (@thefrownyface) June 14, 2023

The man was arrested near the scene shortly after authorities launched a search upon receiving a complaint around 2:40 p.m. June 14. The suspect appeared in Kempten District Court the following day and was taken to a correctional facility, police say.

Another visitor, Eric Abneri, who captured video of the arrest, told the Associated Press that the man appeared to have scratches on his face. Abneri and his friends also saw the rescue.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this,” Abneri told the AP. “It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff.”

Bavarian king Ludwig II ordered the construction of the Neuschwanstein Castle in the 19th century. It is one of the most visited castles in Europe .

More travel news

How we travel now: More people are taking booze-free trips — and airlines and hotels are taking note. Some couples are ditching the traditional honeymoon for a “buddymoon” with their pals. Interested? Here are the best tools for making a group trip work.

Bad behavior: Entitled tourists are running amok, defacing the Colosseum , getting rowdy in Bali and messing with wild animals in national parks. Some destinations are fighting back with public awareness campaigns — or just by telling out-of-control visitors to stay away .

Safety concerns: A door blew off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jet, leaving passengers traumatized — but without serious injuries. The ordeal led to widespread flight cancellations after the jet was grounded, and some travelers have taken steps to avoid the plane in the future. The incident has also sparked a fresh discussion about whether it’s safe to fly with a baby on your lap .

Man who shot and killed German tourist near Idyllwild in 1994 to be released from prison

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KABC) -- A convicted murderer who has spent nearly 28 years in prison for killing a German tourist in Southern California could soon be released, reigniting calls for justice by the victim's family.

In May of 1994, Thongxay Nilakout shot and killed Gisela Pfleger and wounded her husband, Klaus, during a robbery in the mountains near Idyllwild. He was with two accomplices.

Though Klaus was shot in the face, he managed to drive to get help and ultimately survived.

"In April of 1996, I thought we were done with it," said the couple's daughter Birte Pfleger. "I never stopped grieving my mom, of course, but I thought these guys would never get out."

That changed in 2012 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled mandatory life sentences for minors as unconstitutional.

Nilakout was 17 at the time of the crime.

On Tuesday, the California Board of Parole Hearings reaffirmed its earlier decision to release Nilakout, despite Birte's opposition and her petition to Gov. Gavin Newsom to overturn the decision.

Birte said Nilakout received help during his parole hearing by the USC Post-Conviction Justice Project.

"This is not about finding factually innocent people and getting them out of prison, this is the Post-Conviction Project ... to train, rehearse with inmates what to say at their parole hearing," said Birte.

In a statement sent to Eyewitness News, the USC Gould School of Law said, "the project works with clients who were convicted of crimes as youths, including those with sentences that are outdated."

Birte was attending Cal State Long Beach when the murder occurred. Her parents were in town visiting from Germany.

"The actual crime no longer matters, and I think that the parole board has marching orders to empty California prisons," said Birte.

Nilakout is now 46. Birte said he will be returning to his home in Banning. She told ABC7 she is traveling to visit her ailing father in Germany, but said she won't be telling him about Nilakout's release.

"My dad is now 91," she said. "He is a broken man. He never recovered. He has social anxiety. What's the benefit of him knowing?"

Birte said the getaway driver in her mother's murder was also placed on parole and the other accomplice will likely also seek parole.

Related Topics

• RIVERSIDE COUNTY
• FATAL SHOOTING
• PERSON KILLED
• SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
• WOMAN KILLED

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The Osa Chamber of Tourism (CATUOSA) has advocated for the increased recruitment of Tourist Police officers and their heightened presence in the area following the recent killing of a German tourist last Thursday at Dominical beach.

Despite the timing of this request preceding the incident, Luis Centeno, the president of this business entity, emphasized the urgent need to reinforce personnel in the area, without specifying the extent of the reinforcement. This, he believes, is crucial to ensuring the safety of both residents and tourists, particularly in light of the tragic murder of Arlt Dominic Knuth.

Knuth, who had been in the country for over a month, was fatally attacked after 11 p.m. on November 30 while in a camper-type vehicle with a woman.

According to the preliminary report from the Judicial Investigation Agency ( OIJ ), at least two assailants intercepted the couple, demanding they exit the vehicle and hand over money and belongings. The German tourist reportedly resisted, resulting in a gunshot wound to his right shoulder. The perpetrators fled on foot, leaving the victim injured. In an attempt to seek medical help, the woman found an ambulance, but Costa Rican Red Cross (CRC) rescuers declared Knuth dead during the transfer.

His body was subsequently taken to the Tomás Casas Hospital before being removed by Judicial Police for an autopsy at the Forensic Pathology Section in San Joaquín de Flores.

Expressing regret and concern over the incident, Luis Centeno categorized the murder as an “isolated” event. In an interview with Teletica, the spokesperson refuted claims of an immediate impact on the visitation of the territory. He asserted that, up to the closing of this publication, there have been no reports of cancellations linked to the crime.

When questioned about the measures to be implemented post-incident, Centeno revealed plans for a Board of Directors meeting this week to chart the course of action. This includes engaging with local authorities, such as the municipal government and security forces.

“We believe that an increase in police presence is necessary; however, we also think there should be more awareness campaigns regarding the security measures that everyone should adopt. This applies not only to foreigners but also to Costa Ricans. At times, we tend to be overly trusting, parking anywhere without taking necessary precautions. Despite it not being the norm in the area, we must intensify efforts in that regard,” remarked the president of the Osa Chamber of Tourism.

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Tourist sexually assaulted then shoved to death near german castle id’d as recent grad.

A young tourist who was sexually assaulted then fatally thrown into a ravine near a world-famous “Cinderella”-style castle in Germany was identified Friday as a 21-year-old recent University of Illinois graduate, authorities said Friday.

Eva Liu, of Naperville, Ill., was killed while visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle in Schwangau Wednesday afternoon, when a 30-year-old man pushed her off the 165-foot gorge in a stunning attack, police and school officials said.

Liu had traveled to the castle — a tourist hotspot believed to have inspired the palace in Disney’s “Cinderella” movie — with classmate Kelsey Chang, 22, who was also thrown off the cliff by the assailant but survived, the officials said.

“Our University of Illinois family is mourning the senseless death of Ms. Liu and the attack on Ms. Chang,” associate chancellor of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Robin Kaler told the UK Mirror .

“Both had just graduated in May and should have been able to celebrate such an important accomplishment without the fear of such a tragic outcome.”

The unidentified American suspect — who was reportedly staying at the same hotel as the college grads — was arrested Wednesday after allegedly luring the women to a trail that led to an overlook, then “physically attacking” Liu, police said.

When Chang tried to help, he allegedly choked her and pushed her off the side of the steep cliff, where a tree broke her fall, according to authorities.

He allegedly then tried to sexually assault Liu before fatally shoving her into the gorge, where she suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital.

She was pronounced dead the following day. 

Chang only suffered minor injuries from the long fall, police told the Daily Mail Friday . Footage appears to show her hanging onto a fallen tree partway down steep slope.

The young women had been staying at the same hotel as the attacker, The Seibel in Munich, but didn’t know him, the outlet reported.

Chang was recovering in the hospital Friday, according to German media reports.

“The two tourists happened to meet the man on a hiking tour east of the Marienbrücke and joined him,” Chief Public Prosecutor Thomas Hörmann told the German newspaper, Bild .

The suspect was held on murder, attempted murder and sexual assault charges, authorities said.

Witness Eric Abneri said the suspect appeared to have bloody scratches across his face, and said nothing as police arrested him.

“I’m honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this. It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff,” he said.

A bridge near the castle, which draws a total of 1.4 million visitors each year, was temporarily closed due to the incident.

The castle was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who hid out there after losing in the Austro-Prussian war in 1866.

With Post wires

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Elderly German tourist killed by hitchhiker he befriended

Three men who allegedly beat, kidnapped and murdered a 74-year-old German tourist have been arrested.

The victim departed from Botswana on Friday and drove to South Africa. He arrived at Lephalale in the Waterberg district on Saturday morning, said police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba .

He said the tourist stopped to give a male hitchhiker a lift. They had a friendly interaction and the tourist asked his passenger for advice about where to stay in North West, where he would continue his journey across the country.

On arrival in Moruleng, the suspect suggested they stop at a liquor outlet where they had a few drinks.

"That's when the suspect told his two friends the elderly man was expecting a substantial amount of money from his family abroad."

They drove with him to where he was staying. There they allegedly tied him up and assaulted him while demanding his bank pin code. They also searched him and took an undisclosed amount of cash and valuables.

The three suspects removed the vehicle's number plates and drove with the victim while allegedly assaulting him to Northam in Limpopo using a secluded gravel road. At a farm, two suspects dragged the victim from the vehicle and dumped him in bushes.

"Security officials, together with a patrolling member of Rural Safety, noticed a suspicious vehicle parked at night and without number plates. They stopped to investigate. They noticed a suspect's blood-stained T-shirt and they notified the police."

Police officers found the victim's body in bushes.

The suspects had fled the scene.

"An intelligence driven operation was activated and two suspects were arrested in North West later in the evening in possession of some of the deceased's belongings."

Limpopo police c ommissioner Lt-Gen Thembi Hadebe commended police for the swift arrest of the three suspects, aged between 24 and 46. 

Ledwaba said the three foreign national suspects are expected to appear before the Northam magistrate’s court on Monday.

Q&A with head of justice and violence prevention at ISS Gareth Newham

‘this is unbearable’: no trace of german tourist one year after mugging on cape hiking trail, trial of three men accused of german tourist's murder set for july 2024, ba pilot kidnapped, forced to transfer cash, during stopover in joburg.

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Man confesses in murder of U of I grad Eva Liu near castle in Germany

CHICAGO (WLS) -- American Troy Bohling confessed to rape and murder in the death of Eva Liu, a Naperville native and University of Illinois graduate near Neuschwanstein castle in Germany.

This case put investigators on a global path from Naperville to Europe as they tried figuring out why Liu was pushed over a cliff and killed.

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Just as Bohling was about to go to trial in Germany, his legal team announced a stunning admission: Bohling did rape and kill Eva Liu, as charged, and push her over a 165-foot embankment. The unexpected confession came less than a year after Liu left Naperville and went to Germany to celebrate her recent graduation from U of I.

In a matter of moments, a magnificent and picturesque 19th century castle that is thought to have inspired storybooks and fairy tales became the backdrop for a horror story.

Last June, 31-year-old Bohling, from suburban Detroit, went on a deranged sex and shoving spree. On a hiking path, Bohling targeted two Illinois women who were traveling together in Germany to celebrate their new U of I degrees. As 21-year-old Liu, a former student at Naperville Central and the Illinois Math and Science Academy, was being assaulted by Bohling, her friend and U of I classmate, 22-year-old Kelsey Chang, tried to stop the attack. Chang, from Bloomington, was pushed into the 165 foot ravine. Liu was then also tossed down the steep wooded cliff.

Helicopters and ground rescue teams had a difficult mission that day. They recovered Liu's body. She didn't survive the gorge. Chang did.

RELATED: Naperville City Council remembers Eva Liu, woman killed in German castle attack

Bohling was arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, rape and possession of child pornography. He shielded his face while being brought into a German court for trial on Monday.

As German justice officials were preparing to begin proceedings, Bohling's attorney said his client admitted to the crimes.

According to German officials, the court will now consider Bohling's confession. If convicted, they will also decide whether to extradite him to serve a sentence closer to his Michigan home.

An 11th hour confession is unusual but not unheard of. In 2019, downstate trial defendant, Brendt Christensen, did the same thing. Oddly, the case also involved a female victim connected to U of I. Christensen's last-second strategy and admission likely kept him from the executioner. He's now serving life without parole. Germany doesn't have the death penalty; but it may take until sentencing to determine Bohling's motivation for his late game confession.

Related Topics

• CHAMPAIGN URBANA
• WOMAN KILLED
• U.S. & WORLD
• UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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Thai court sentences German tourist killer to death

BANGKOK (AP) — A Thai man has been sentenced to death for raping and murdering a German tourist on a popular resort island. The Chonburi provincial court, in a ruling seen Friday, sentenced Ronnakorn Romruen to death after he confessed.

It convicted him of rape, murder, concealing the body and driving a motorcycle under the influence of methamphetamine. The court ruled that Ronnakorn raped the 27-year-old victim and then killed her by bludgeoning her head with a rock.

Ronnakorn was arrested in April after police discovered the body under rocks and leaves.

Koh Si Chang is a popular tourist destination with a population of 5,000 people. The island is in Chonburi province, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Bangkok.

Police investigator Somkid Kaensa said at the time of the arrest that a Thai tourist had notified police after seeing Ronnakorn’s clothes covered in blood, and police then searched the area and discovered the tourist’s body.

Somkid said a flower vendor who knew Ronnakorn also saw him in clothes covered in blood and asked him what had happened. The vendor identified Ronnakorn for police, who went to his home, where they found him and his bloodstained shirt, Somkid said.

In June last year, Thailand carried out its first execution in nine years. If it had reached 10 years without an execution it would have been reclassified as having abolished the death penalty in practice.

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