Near Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle, a woman was tossed down a ravine and perished.
According to local authorities, the 21-year-old and her buddy, 22, had crossed paths with another American traveller on a hiking trail on Wednesday afternoon.
Then, according to reports, he enticed the two to a scenic spot close to the Marienbruecke bridge.
The younger woman was then “physically attacked” by the man, according to authorities.
When her 22-year-old companion tried to intervene, he choked her and pushed her down a steep slope, they added.
The man then appears to have allegedly attempted to sexually assault the 21-year-old before pushing her down the slope as well.
She fell nearly 50 metres (165 feet), ending up close to her friend.
The mountain rescue service rescued both women as shocked tourists watched on.
The 22-year-old was ‘responsive’ and taken to hospital, police said.
The 21-year-old was flown by helicopter to hospital with serious injuries and died there overnight.
The suspect left the scene but was arrested nearby shortly afterwards.
Chief Public Prosecutor Thomas Hörmann told Bild: ‘The crime happened on Wednesday around 2.40 pm. The two tourists met the man on a hiking tour east of the Marienbrücke and joined him.’
The trio then reached ‘a beaten path to a viewpoint’.
After the younger woman was attacked, ‘the 22-year-old wanted to help, so he choked her and pushed her down the slope,’ Mr Hörmann added.
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 on Thursday ordered him held pending a potential indictment 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.
Neuschwanstein, in southern Bavaria and close to the Austrian border, is one of Germany’s most popular tourist attractions.