US tourist accused of murdering American woman on hiking trail in Germany
Kempten, Germany - A 21-year-old US woman has died after being assaulted and pushed down a slope by a US tourist near the Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria, Germany, police said on Thursday.
A 30-year-old US man was arrested on suspicion of murder after the incident on Wednesday afternoon, police from the town of Kempten said in a statement.
The 21-year-old and her 22-year-old female friend were hiking in the area when they met the suspect, the police said.
The man allegedly persuaded them to follow him down a secret trail that led to a good lookout point.
He then "physically attacked" the 21-year-old woman, police said. When her friend tried to intervene, he allegedly choked her and pushed her down a steep slope.
Police believe "an attempted sexual offense" was then committed against the 21-year-old. She was then also pushed down the slope, falling next to her friend over 160 feet below.
When mountain rescue workers found the two women, the 22-year-old was injured but able to talk.
The 21-year-old was seriously injured and taken by helicopter to hospital, where she died later that night as a result of her injuries.
The man is being investigated on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, and a sexual offense.
Cover photo: Screenshot/Twitter/Eric Abneri