An American man, Troy B, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court in Kempten, Germany, for the murder of 21-year-old Eva Liu and the assault of her friend, Kelsey Chang, near Neuschwanstein Castle in June. The tragic incident occurred when Troy B attacked the two women after luring them off a public path close to the castle, resulting in Liu’s death and Chang sustaining severe injuries.

The 31-year-old was convicted on charges of murder, attempted murder, and rape with fatal consequences. The court highlighted the particularly grave nature of the crimes, influenced by the discovery of violent pornography on the perpetrator’s phone and his actions that treated the victims as disposable. Consequently, Troy B’s life sentence is underscored by the fact that he will not be eligible for automatic parole after the usual 15 years due to the severity of his guilt.

This incident, which took place near the Marienbruecke—a popular viewpoint for the castle—has raised concerns over the safety of tourists visiting renowned destinations. Both victims, recent graduates of the University of Illinois, were traveling in Germany when they encountered their assailant. The attack has sparked a discussion about the necessity of vigilance and safety precautions for tourists globally.