Man throws 2 women into ravine killing one at 'Disney' castle after sex assault
A US man has killed one woman and seriously injured another by throwing them 160ft down a ravine after sexually assaulting one and brawling with her companion at a famous 'Disney' castle in Germany, police said.
The assault took place on Wednesday at the 19th Century Neuschwanstein castle in Bavaria, which is located at the foothills of the Alps and thought to have been the inspiration for Disney's "Cinderella" castle.
The 30-year-old man, who was later arrested on suspicion of the horrific crimes, had met the two women, aged 21 and 22, the same day on a narrow bridge that crosses the 300-ft gaping gorge surrounding the castle.
He is said to have convinced the pair to accompany him to a lookout point at the popular tourist attraction, but when they got there he "physically attacked" the younger of the two, police said.
Her pal then tried to defend her, but he choked her before pushing her down a steep slope.
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The US male tourist was led away in handcuffs after sustaining injuries to the face (@thefrownyface/Twitter)Cops said he then tried to carry out a sexual offence before he tried to push the 21-year-old down the slope too. She fell nearly 50 meters (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.
"According to the current state of knowledge, an attempted sexual offence to the detriment of the 21-year-old must be assumed," said police in a statement in English.
"The 22-year-old wanted to help, so he choked her and pushed her down the slope."
Both fell around 165ft down the gorge and had to be airlifted out, but tragically the 21-year-old woman died in hospital.
Her 22-year-old friend is still in hospital, German media reported.
The suspect fled but a massive manhunt was launched involving 25 emergency vehicles and he was eventually tracked down.
Surveillance footage shows the moment the man was led away from the castle and taken into police custody. Another cliip shows the victim being lifted from the ravine by chopper.
The castle is a huge tourist draw, attracting 1.4 million visitors each year and 6,000 each day in the summer months.
The stunning site is said to be the inspiration for the castle in Disney's Cinderella (Frank Rumpenhorst/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Authorities didn’t identify either the suspect or the victims or give any further details.
Under German law, suspects must be brought before a judge at a closed-doors hearing by the end of the calendar day after their arrest if investigators intend to keep them in custody.
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Police said a judge in nearby Kempten had ordered the suspect held pending a potential indictment - a process that can take months - and he was taken to jail.
German cops say they are treating the case as murder and attempted murder, in addition to the sexual offence.
The man is being charged with murder, attempted murder and the sexual offence (@thefrownyface/Twitter)
German law does not allow him to be identified for the time being (@thefrownyface/Twitter)They are currently working to reconstruct the order of events, police added.
Speaking with German daily, Bild, Chief Public Prosecutor Thomas Hörmann said: "The crime happened on Wednesday around 2.40pm.
“The two tourists happened to meet the man on a hiking tour east of the Marienbrücke and joined him.”
Members of the local mountain rescue service reached both women.
Helicopters were called in to extract the women from the gorge (@thefrownyface/Twitter)
One of the women died in hospital that night while the other is still being treated (@thefrownyface/Twitter)The 22-year-old was “responsive” and taken to a hospital, police said. The 21-year-old was flown by helicopter to a hospital with serious injuries and died there overnight.
The suspect left the scene but was arrested nearby shortly afterwards.
A man who saw the arrest told MailOnline that he saw a man "with a bloodied face" being taken off into custody.
A witness video posted online showed a man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap being led away in handcuffs by police.
New York tourist Eric Abneri recalled hearing the helicopters whirling above the world-famous tourist attraction.
Millions of people visit the castle each year (AP)"We saw two or three men repelling (into the ravine) and were confused, until I noticed the woman in blue who we thought fell.
"They rescued the woman. I'm unsure of who lived and the helicopter flew away, then came back for the other rescuers. Shortly after we went back to see the bridge and it was closed with a police presence."
A number of witnesses at the scene were said to have been shaken up by the horrific incident.
The older woman remained in hospital tonight.
Authorities didn’t identify either the suspect or the victims or give any further details.
The bridge was reopened to the public after cops secured the crime scene.
The air ambulance hovers over the scene (@thefrownyface/Twitter)
One of the women ended up close to her friend after falling 165 ft (@thefrownyface/Twitter)Under German law, suspects must be brought before a judge at a closed-doors hearing by the end of the calendar day after their arrest if investigators intend to keep them in custody.
Police said a judge in nearby Kempten had 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 offence.
Police said they and prosecutors were focusing on trying to reconstruct exactly what happened and called for any witnesses to come forward.
The Neuschwanstein Castle, in the German Alps close in southern Bavaria and close to the Austrian border, is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions.
It was the retreat of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who built it in the 19th century and reclused himself there after losing in the Austro-Prussian war.
He paid for it with his personal fortune, but the castle wasn't completed in his lifetime - Ludwig died in 1886 - and was finally finished in 1996.
The castle is believed to have inspired Walt Disney when he drew his fairytale castle.
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