Crime & Safety
Metro Detroit Man Admits To Raping, Killing Woman Near German Castle
An Illinois woman was killed and another was injured in the attack last summer near a famous German castle, according to prosecutors.
LINCOLN PARK, MI — A metro Detroit man who was scheduled to take the stand in the rape and killing of an American tourist in Germany last summer admitted to the charges, according to an Associated Press report.
The 31-year-old Lincoln Park man - identified in reports as Troy Bohling, was arrested shortly after the attack that left a 21-year-old Illinois woman dead near a famous castle in Germany on June 14, 2023.
Eva Liu, 22, of Naperville and Kelsey Chang, 22, of Bloomington were hiking around 2 p.m. when they were lured off the trail by the man to the Marienbrücke vantage point, according to police.
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He then tried to sexually assault Liu by forcing her to the ground and undressing her, according to prosecutors.
When Chang tried to stop the attack, the man pushed her off a deep 165-foot slope, according to prosecutors.
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The man then strangled Liu until she was unconscious and raped her, before pushing her down the slope as well, according to prosecutors.
Liu was killed in the attack, while Chang survived, but suffered a head injury, bruises and grazes, according to prosecutors.
The man was 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 University of Illinois confirmed to a local ABC station that Liu and Chang were visiting Germany shortly after graduating from the university. Liu received a bachelor of science degree in computer science in May 2023, while Chang graduated with a degree in computer engineering.
"Our University of Illinois family is mourning the senseless death of Ms. Liu and the attack on Ms. Chang. 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 statement said. "Our thoughts are with Ms. Chang as she recovers and with both of their families as they grieve."
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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