A 19-year-old University of Wisconsin-Madison student missing in Italy has been found dead. Family members of Beau Solomon say investigators are treating his death as a murder.
The university in Rome where Solomon was studying abroad released a statement Monday confirming that a body found in the Italian capital’s Tiber River was that of the Spring Green, Wisconsin native. Later in the day, Cole Solomon, Beau Solomon’s 23-year-old brother, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that authorities believe someone killed him. He said his brother suffered a head wound and was found with blood on his shirt.
What’s more, thousands of dollars were charged to his credit card after his disappearance.
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Italian authorities told CBS News earlier Monday that a body had been recovered in the river about a mile from where Solomon was last seen.
Solomon disappeared Thursday night, just hours after arriving in Rome, when he was separated from friends at a bar. His roommate reported him missing after Solomon didn’t arrive for class the next morning.
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank issued a statement Monday saying everyone at the school is saddened by Beau Solomon’s death.
Blank wrote:
“All of us at UW–Madison 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. UW–Madison is working with John Cabot University and with American and Italian authorities to assist Beau’s family and to support the investigation into his death.”
This story has been updated with comments from Rebecca Blank and Cole Solomon.
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