A 19-year-old student from the University of Wisconsin in Madison was found dead on Monday in the Tiber River, Rome. He had enrolled in a summer program in the city. Authorities have already arrested a homeless man linked to the murder case.
Massimo Galioto, a 40-year-old local suspected of killing Beau Solomon, was being interrogated on Monday. The student was injured in the head and showed blood on his shirt. He reportedly disappeared after visiting a nightspot in the city on Thursday.
Salomon was planning to attend a summer course at John Cabot University in Rome. His roommate announced his absence on Friday morning when Salomon did not appear in orientation class, said the New York Times.
Salomon’s credit card has been charged for more than $1,700, according to Italian media. The student’s body was located 2,000 feet from the pub he visited, nearby a concurred area where a summer fair is being celebrated.
Rebecca Black, Chancellor or the University of Wisconsin in Madison, published a statement on Tuesday, sending her condolences to Solomon’s family.
“We are greatly saddened by this loss. Beau was a bright and caring young man who lived the Wisconsin Idea through his work at Badger Boys State and his desire to travel and experience other cultures. Our hearts go out to Beau’s family and friends at this difficult time,” said Black.
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Officers told The Daily Beast that Solomon was assaulted by a local gang of thugs. Then, he was apparently thrown into the river by Galioto. An autopsy should determine if the 19-year-old student died drowned.
The Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata said on Monday that two witnesses saw a man pushing someone from a bridge to the river. Police found Solomon’s body without his wallet and cellphone. Italian media said his wallet had been used in Milan, Italy.
Cole Solomon told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that his brother’s death is being investigated as murder. The American student had childhood cancer until the age of 12. He participated in high school activities such as sports and worked as a camp counselor, added his brother.
Beau had three brothers in the United States. His parents, Nick and Jodi Solomon are already in Italy to collaborate with Italian and U.S. Embassy officials, said the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. University authorities said in a statement that it is still safe for U.S. students to travel to Rome.
The 19-year-old boy was a student of personal finances at UW-Madison, in the School of Human Ecology. Lori Berquam, Dean of the School of Human Ecology Soyeon Shim, said Solomon was very enthusiastic about beginning personal finance studies in fall.
Piazza Trilussa, where Beau Solomon was alongside friends on Thursday night, is a place commonly visited by young Americans. People under 21 years old can legally acquire alcohol in Italy. An American student was raped in the same area last year, according to the New York Times.