two tourist killed in germany

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.

• neuschwanstein

US tourist killed after man pushed her off steep slope at popular castle in Germany, police say

BERLIN — An American man has been arrested over the death of one 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.

"The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect," said police spokesman Holger Stabik. "The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope. "

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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 50 meters (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 with serious injuries to a different hospital, and she died there overnight.The suspect left the scene but was quickly arrested nearby. Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who took 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 reached the scenic overlook as a helicopter arrived and they saw rescuers lower themselves down to the victims.

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"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.

American tourist killed, another injured in attack near Germany's Neuschwanstein castle, police say

Neuschwanstein was the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty."

BERLIN and LONDON -- An American tourist was killed and another was injured when they were attacked by an American man they met near the famous Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, authorities said Thursday.

The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon in the German state of Bavaria near the Marienbruecke, a pedestrian bridge popular for its stunning view of Neuschwanstein. Nestled on the edge of the Bavarian Alps, the 19th-century palace was the inspiration for the castle in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty." Two women, ages 21 and 22, met a 30-year-old man on a hiking trail east of the bridge who then lured them onto a path that led to a viewpoint, according to a statement from the Bavarian State Police.

MORE: 2 Americans found dead in hotel room in Baja California Sur, Mexico: Police

The man then "physically attacked" the younger woman, police said. When the other woman tried to intervene, the man choked her and pushed her down a steep slope. He then apparently attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before also pushing her down the slope. Both women fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), according to police.

A mountain rescue service from the nearby town of Fuessen rescued both women. The 22-year-old was injured but responsive and taken to a hospital. The 21-year-old suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a hospital, where she died overnight, police said.

The suspect had left the scene but was arrested close by soon after, according to police.

MORE: 5 dead, plus unborn child, in shooting at Jehovah's Witness hall in Germany: Police

Although the names of the suspect and the victims have not yet been released, a Bavarian State Police spokesperson confirmed to ABC News that all three were American tourists.

The suspect appeared before a judge in the nearby town of Kempten on Thursday and was ordered to be held in jail pending a potential indictment. He is under investigation on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and sexual offense, according to police.

Police have called for any witnesses to come forward as they continue to investigate the alleged attack.

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American man admits to attacking 2 US tourists and killing one of them near a famous German castle

Germany us tourists killed.

BERLIN (AP) — An American man on Monday admitted to charges of murder and rape after he allegedly pushed two U.S. women down a ravine, fatally injuring one of them near Germany's Neuschwanstein castle last year.

The 31-year-old defendant admitted to the charges during the start of his trial, the German news agency dpa reported. Defendants in the German legal system do not formally enter pleas to charges.

“The defendant has committed an unfathomable crime,” defense lawyer Philip Mueller said in a statement. The defendant, whose name hasn’t been released in line with German privacy rules, confirmed that his lawyer’s statement was correct but did not answer any questions.

The defendant is charged with murder, rape with fatal consequences, attempted murder and possession of child pornography. Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison in Germany.

The attack happened on June 14 last year near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a view of Neuschwanstein, one of Germany’s most famous tourist attractions.

Prosecutors say the defendant met by chance the two female tourists, aged 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them off the trail. They said in a statement that he apparently first forced the younger woman to the ground and tried to undress her.

When the elder woman tried to help her, a scuffle ensued and the suspect allegedly pushed her down a steep slope. She fell about 50 meters (165 feet) and sustained a head injury, bruises and grazes but survived .

The suspect then allegedly strangled the younger woman until she was unconscious and raped her, prosecutors said, before pushing her down the slope as well. She died.

Prosecutors said they secured a laptop and cellphones from the suspect containing child sexual abuse material.

Authorities say the women didn’t know the man before they met near Neuschwanstein. The suspect was arrested shortly after the attack.

A verdict is expected to be announced in mid-March at the earliest.

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US man held after fatal attack near Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany

Women aged 21 and 22 had met the suspect for the first time shortly beforehand

An American man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual assault after allegedly attacking two women near one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions and throwing them down a 50-metre ravine.

One of the women, aged 21, died overnight from serious injuries. Her 22-year-old companion was still in hospital with serious injuries. Neither has been identified, but according to German media reports both women were also Americans.

The attack took place on Wednesday afternoon at the 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, the state prosecutor Thomas Hörmann told reporters.

The two women had met the man on a trail close to Marienbrücke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.

The three of them then went “over a trail path to a viewing point, where he then physically attacked the 21-year-old,” Hörmann said. Investigators were working on the assumption that the attack was sexually motivated, he added.

“The 22-year-old wanted to help, whereupon he strangled her and pushed her down the incline.” The 21-year-old also plunged into the ravine.

Witnesses reported seeing the women lying side by side 50 metres below. The women were recovered by a mountain rescue team from Füssen and were flown by helicopter to a nearby clinic.

The man fled the scene and a suspect was arrested shortly afterwards, following a large police operation. A witness video posted online showed a man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap being led away in handcuffs by police.

Criminal investigative police from Kempten have launched an investigation into murder, attempted murder and sexual assault, assisted by officers from a local alpine taskforce who have expert knowledge of the terrain.

The alleged attacker appeared before a judge in Kempten and is being held in custody.

A spokesperson for the castle said it was operating normally and the Marienbrücke, a popular place from which to view the picturesque castle, was also accessible.

Neuschwanstein was built on top of a rock ledge above the Pöllat Gorge in the Bavarian Alps on the orders of Bavaria’s King Ludwig II, who wanted a reproduction of a medieval castle. Building work began in 1868 but it was never completed. It now draws an estimated 1.4 million tourists a year.

Most viewed

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 .

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American Man Arrested for Pushing 2 U.S. Tourists into Ravine at German Castle, Leaving 1 Dead

An American man is in custody after attacking two women near the historic Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany

An American man is in custody for pushing two U.S. tourists off a bridge in Germany, leaving one dead and another seriously injured.

The incident occurred on June 14 at a scenic viewpoint near Neuschwanstein Castle, which served as the inspiration for the castle in Sleeping Beauty, reported Associated Press .

The suspect, a 30-year-old man, came across two female tourists aged 21 and 22, while hiking along a trail, according to a police statement seen by AP.

“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect," police spokesman Holger Stabik added in the statement, per the outlet. “The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope.”

Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance

The attacker then tried to sexually assault the younger woman before also pushing her down the slope, reported CNN . Tragically, she later died from the injuries she sustained in the estimated 165-foot fall, the Bavaria police said in a statement issued Thursday, added the outlet.

A spokesperson from the Bavarian State Police told ABC News that all three individuals involved in the incident were U.S. tourists. German law prevents the authorities from releasing the details of the suspect and the victims at this time.

After the incident, the suspect was arrested by law enforcement. A bystander's video circulated online, shows police leading away a handcuffed man dressed in a T-shirt, jeans and baseball cap.

Eric Abneri, a University of Pittsburgh graduate who captured the footage told AP the man had visible scratches on his face.

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

"I'm honestly absolutely stunned someone is still alive from this," he continued. "It is like falling from the top of an absolute cliff."

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for  PEOPLE' s free True Crime newsletter  for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Abneri added that the authorities also had to conduct "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."

The suspect made an appearance before a judge in the nearby town of Kempten on Thursday and is currently under investigation for murder, attempted murder and a sexual offense, reported the BBC . The judge also ordered the suspect to remain in custody while awaiting a potential indictment, added the outlet.

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American Arrested For Pushing 2 Tourists Down Slope At German Castle, Killing 1 Woman

BERLIN (AP) — An American man has been arrested over the death of one 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.

“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect,” said police spokesman Holger Stabik. “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. She fell nearly 50 meters (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 with serious injuries to a different hospital, and she died there overnight.

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

Eric Abneri, a recent business graduate from the University of Pittsburgh who took 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 reached 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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American victims in deadly tourist attack by German castle identified as recent Illinois university graduates

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Two American women who were attacked while they hiked a trail near a famous castle in Germany have been identified.

Eva Liu, 21, and Kelsey Chang, 22, had travelled to Germany following their May graduation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DailyMail.com first reported.

A university spokesperson confirmed in a statement to The Independent that Ms Chang and Liu were shoved down into a ravine near the historic Neuschwanstein Castle in the German state of Bavaria on Wednesday . Liu died as a result of injuries she sustained during the 164ft fall, while Ms Chang remains in hospital.

Bavarian police said in a statement on Thursday that the victims joined a man along a trail just moments before the attack. He reportedly tried to sexually assault them before pushing them down a steep gorge. A 30-year-old American man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and sexual offences.

“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 office of the university chancellor said. “Our thoughts are with Ms. Chang as she recovers and with both of their families as they grieve.”

Just weeks before the tragedy, Liu was awarded a computer science degree, while Ms Chang received a bachelor’s in computer engineering.

Liu had landed a role as a software engineer at Microsoft after finishing an internship with the company during her last semester, she wrote in a LinkedIn post.

On Wednesday afternoon, the two women were on a hiking trail east of the Marienbrücke Bridge, an attraction just an hour’s drive from Munich that is popular among visitors for its sweeping views of Neuschwanstein Castle. They met a man and joined him on the hike, police said.

“The man then steered the two under a pretext to a trail that was difficult to see, which leads to a viewpoint,” Bavarian police said in a statement . “According to the current state of knowledge, an attempted sexual offence to the detriment of the 21-year-old must be assumed.”

Once out of sight, the 30-year-old assailant reportedly tried to attack Liu, prompting Ms Chang to try and defend her, police said.

“The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect,” police spokesman Holger Stabik told the AP . “The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope.”

Both women were shoved down 164 feet into a ravine. Liu was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition and died on Thursday night.

Ms Chang suffered bruises and lacerations to her head but much of the impact was blunted by a tree, according to the Mail.

She was transported to a hospital and was still recovering as of Friday morning.

Bavarian police said the attacker was a 30-year-old US national, DW reports . Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed, bearded man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

The victims and their alleged attacker had reportedly stayed at the budget Seibel Hotel in Munich, staff told the Mail .

The suspect appeared before a judge at the Kempten District Court, but did not comment on a motive behind the attack.

Following protocol, German authorities will not release the name of the suspect in the early stages of the investigation.

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Neuschwanstein castle murder case opens with U.S. man admitting to rape, killing of fellow U.S. tourist

February 19, 2024 / 6:32 AM EST / CBS/AFP

Kempten, Germany  — An American man accused of raping and killing a fellow U.S. tourist near Bavaria's famed Neuschwanstein castle last year made a wide-ranging confession on the first day of his trial Monday.

Troy Philipp B. faces several charges including one count of murder over the death of the 21-year-old woman. He also stands accused of the attempted murder of the victim's friend , also an American citizen. Neither the suspect nor the victims have been identified due to German privacy laws.

CBS News' Anna Noryskiewicz said B.'s lawyer surprised the court right at the outset of the Monday hearing when he admitted that his client had committed the crime.

"The accused committed the incomprehensible act," his lawyer Philip Mueller told the district court in the southern town of Kempten.

The lawyer said B. had been motivated to carry out the acts spontaneously and denied any intent. B. also admitted to possessing child pornography right at the beginning of the trial.

Suspects do not enter formal guilty or not guilty pleas to charges in Germany's criminal justice system.

The two women, then 21 and 22 years old, had been hiking in the Neuschwanstein area in June last year when they met B., who offered to take them to a viewpoint, investigators said.

At a secluded spot, the man, then 30, allegedly pushed the 21-year-old woman to the ground and proceeded to rape and strangle her. Her friend intervened, leading to a scuffle in which the man allegedly pushed the 22-year-old off a steep slope.

The accused then continued his sexual assault of the 21-year-old woman, strangling her with a belt while filming the act.

Interrupted by hikers who stumbled on the crime, he pushed the rape victim down the same slope while she was unconscious.

When mountain rescue workers found the two women, the 22-year-old was injured but able to talk.

The rape victim was seriously injured and taken by helicopter to hospital, where she died later that night from her injuries.   "He was aware that the victim could die without help, yet he still left her behind," Mueller told the court.

His client was "deeply ashamed" about his actions and wished to apologize to the victim's family, the lawyer added.

The suspect, who is from Michigan, spoke only to confirm the accuracy of his lawyer's statement to the court.

He is not expected to make any further comments during the trial, scheduled to run until March 13.

The rescue operation and his subsequent arrest took place in front of hundreds of tourists.

One of them was another American tourist, Eric Abneri, from New York, who captured video of B. being taken into custody. He told CBS News after the incident that the suspect's "face was covered in deep red scratch marks and his neck as well."

"There was clearly a struggle there, and he just had a frown on his face," Abneri said. "He didn't say anything. He had a sort of disturbed look."

Built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein castle is one of the most visited sites in Germany, attracting over a million visitors a year.

B. faces up to life in prison if convicted.

On Monday, he also confessed to possession of child pornography, which investigators uncovered as part of their probe into the attack.

• Attempted Murder

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German police appeal for images taken of an attack in which Americans were pushed down a steep slope

FILE - People stay on the Marien-Bridge at Castle Neuschwanstein, a 19th century creation by Bavaria’s fairy tale king Ludwig II and world renowned tourist attraction, is pictured in Hohenschwangau near Fuessen, southern Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. A U.S. hiker who was sexually assaulted and killed in Germany last week had just graduated from the University of Illinois with a computer science degree in May. A Michigan man attacked her and a 22-year-old friend while they were hiking near Neuschwanstein castle on June 14. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP, File)

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

In this image taken from video, a suspect is taken away by two police officers near Neuschwanstein castle in Schwangau, southern Germany, Thursday June 15, 2023. An American man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting two U.S. tourists near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany and then pushing them down a steep slope, an attack that left one of the women dead, authorities said Thursday. (Eric Abneri via AP)

Tourists stand on the Marienbr’cke bridge, near the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

FILE - Castle Neuschwanstein, a 19th century creation by Bavaria’s fairy tale king Ludwig II and world renowned tourist attraction, is pictured in Hohenschwangau near Fuessen, southern Germany, on Monday, May 9, 2011. Authorities say a man has attacked two women near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany, killing one. Police say the women were attacked Wednesday afternoon near the popular tourist site and the man fled but was arrested. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

A view of the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany, Thursday, June 15, 2023. Authorities say an American man has been arrested in Germany after allegedly assaulting two tourists he met near Neuschwanstein castle. The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, left one of the women dead. Police said Thursday that the 30-year-old man met the two women on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail. They said the man then “physically attacked” the younger woman. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)

• Copy Link copied

BERLIN (AP) — 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.”

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.

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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• freak accident

American killed, another injured after being electrocuted in Mexico hot tub incident

PUERTO PENASCO, Mexico -- Two American tourists from Texas were electrocuted in a jacuzzi at a resort in Mexico. One was killed and the other was injured.

Authorities are now studying the difficult video that captured the tragic incident, as well as the desperate attempt to help them.

Dramatic video showing the moments two Americans are believed to have been electrocuted in a hot tub at a Mexico resort. Bystanders screamed for help as one person was seen being pulled to safety. Amidst the chaos on that pool deck, you can also see someone else administering CPR.

The Sonora attorney general says it's investigating the incident, stating 43-year-old Jorge was killed, and 35-year-old Lizeth injured. As per policy, they used only the victims' first names.

Sources told ABC News they were a couple from El Paso, Texas.

"The tragic incident unfolding Tuesday evening at the Sonoran Sea Resort near Puerto Peñasco," officials said.

The attorney general added that forensic analysis will be conducted to determine the origin of the electrical failure.

ABC News has reached out to the resort for comment multiple times and has not heard back.

Experts say if you feel an electric current in a pool or hot tub, you should get out of the water immediately without touching any metal fixtures or ladders.

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American tourist dies, wife badly injured after being electrocuted in hot tub at mexican resort: report.

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An American tourist died and his wife was badly injured while lounging in a hot tub at a private Mexican resort Tuesday — and authorities believe they were likely electrocuted by the malfunctioning device.

The 43-year-old man, whom authorities only identified as Jorge G., of El Paso, Texas, was killed and Lizette Z. suffered life-threatening injuries around 10 p.m. at the Sonoran Sea Resort in Puerto Penasco, the General Prosecutor’s Office for the State of Sonora said, according to KTSM.

Lizette Z. was taken to the US and is in critical condition, the station reported.

The wife had burns that appeared to indicate she suffered electric shock that might have been caused by faulty wiring, the General Prosecutor’s Office reportedly said.

A witness who knew the couple said she saw the pair in the outdoor hot tub, but neither was moving, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office.

When the bystander tried to help the couple, she was shocked and was forced to call for help.

The cause of death has not been officially determined, the El Paso Times reported.

The incident is under investigation.

An Arizona woman staying at the resort, Sara Gaitan-Perez, told Arizona Daily Star she and others tried to aid the victims, but the man didn’t have a pulse when she arrived.

“We had just come from the pool, and my husband and son were in that very same (hot tub) about an hour before,” she told the newspaper. 

The resort could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

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RFK Jr. Compares Gaza to Nazi Germany in Argument Against Ceasefire: ‘We Killed About 2 Million Germans’ to ‘De-Nazify It’

I ndependent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr . compared Gaza to Nazi Germany during an argument against a ceasefire on Thursday before declaring that the Allies had to kill “about two million Germans” to “de-Nazify” Germany.

During an interview with Kennedy on  Piers Morgan Uncensored , host Piers Morgan questioned, “At what point does this desperation [for Israel] to eliminate the last members of Hamas get overtaken by the sheer volume of civilians being killed in the process, which I cannot believe will do anything longer term than foment the ideology that drove Hamas in the first place?”

Kennedy replied:

In 1945 or ’44 at Casablanca, Churchill and Roosevelt had an argument because Roosevelt said we have to de-Nazify Germany and if we don’t de-Nazify Germany, it is going to, you know, the Nazis are going to rise up and do the same thing again. Churchill did not want an unconditional surrender for the Nazis, he said we’ll have to kill too many civilians to do that and everybody will fight to the death, but Roosevelt won that argument, and we killed about two million Germans during World War 2 in order to get into Berlin and de-Nazify it. Today, Germany is the richest country in Europe, it’s one of the most powerful economies in the world, I think it’s the fourth most powerful, and nobody is scared of Germany because it’s a peaceful country. And today, Hamas, which has authoritarian control, hasn’t won an election in 16 years, of Gaza is a corporate kleptocracy and it’s absolutely intent on one issue and one issue only: to annihilate Israel and to kill all the Jews.

He continued, “People who are saying, ‘Well, you should have a ceasefire.’ Then what? You’ve rewarded Hamas for taking hostages, and they’re gonna keep taking hostages to get more and more advantage. This is, by the way, the fifth ceasefire. On October 7, they broke a ceasefire. Are you gonna go back to that status quo? I don’t think you can.”

Kennedy received backlash from both progressives and libertarians over his remarks on social media.

“There are anti-war candidates in this race ( Jill Stein, Cornel West, Claudia De La Cruz ) but RFK Jr. isn’t one of them,” reacted former Bernie Sanders press secretary Briahna Joy Gray .

“This is shocking and immediately disqualifies him from any position as an alternative to the two parties,” weighed in Ron Paul Institute director Daniel McAdams . “The ‘independent’ candidate literally wants Israel to kill all Palestinians. Arguably more genocidal than Biden or Trump. What is wrong with him?”

Watch above via  Piers Morgan Uncensored.