Neuschwanstein Castle in Fuessen, Germany, as photographed in June 2023.Photo:Leonhard Simon/Getty

View from the so called Kanzel view point on the Neuschwanstein Castle following the death of a 21-year-old female American student, on June 16, 2023 near Fuessen, Germany. A 30-year-old American man is in custody. According to police the man met two female American students on the Marienbruecke bridge on June 14 and coaxed them to join him on a hiking trail near the gorge. He reportedly attacked the 21-year-old, and when her 22-year-old companion attempted to intervene, he pushed the 22-year-old into the gorge. After attempting to rape the 21-year-old he pushed her into the gorge as well. The 21-year-old died in hospital after being airlifted out by helicopter, while the 22-year-old remains in critical condition.

Leonhard Simon/Getty

An American man is facing multiple charges, including murder, after allegedly attacking two women and pushing them into a German ravine, resulting in one’s death.

The 30-year-old man, whose name has not been released, has been charged with murder, rape with fatal consequences, attempted murder and possession of child pornography following the June incident outside of Neuschwanstein Castle, according to reports from theAssociated PressandNBC News, which cite an indictment filed in Kempten state court.

Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison in Germany, per the AP.

As the outlet notes, the indictment against the man was filed in Kempten state court, and the court will next decide whether to send his case to trial.

Prosecutors also obtained a laptop and cellphones from the suspect, on which they allegedly discovered child “sexual abuse material,” per the AP.The suspect, who the AP reports did not know the victims, ran into the two U.S. tourists — aged 21 and 22 — while hiking on a trail on June 14 near the Marienbrücke, a bridge close to the castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle in Fuessen, Germany, as photographed in June 2023.Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance

View of Neuschwanstein with the Marienbrücke. A man attacked two women near the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle on Wednesday, injuring one of them so seriously. The woman later died

Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance

Footage of the suspect’s arrest later circulated online, showing the man wearing a t-shirt, jeans and baseball cap as he was handcuffed.

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Witness Eric Abneri, who captured the footage, previously told the AP that the suspect had scratches on his face and “did not say a single word” during his arrest.

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

source: people.com