Italian authorities detained a man Tuesday suspected of murdering 19-year-old UW-Madison student Beau Solomon.
The personal finance student was last seen at a bar with friends around 1 a.m. Friday morning. He was reported missing when he did not appear at orientation at John Cabot University in Rome. His body was found in the Tiber River Monday.
The suspect has been identified as 40-year-old Italian homeless man Massimo Galioto, according to a Wisconsin State Journal article.
The article states that two witnesses claim to have seen a man throwing a body into the Tiber River Friday, the day of Solomon’s disappearance.
According to the article, an Italian TV station confirmed that nearly $1,700 was charged to Solomon’s credit card Monday night at a store far from the site where Solomon’s body was discovered. Italian authorities are uncertain whether the suspect used the card himself or if another party was involved. Surveillance cameras at the shop are being analyzed to uncover further details.
Cause of the student’s death also remains unclear. Solomon “suffered injuries consistent with a fall and with days spent in the water,” according to the Wisconsin State Journal article.
The UW-Madison community, Solomon’s hometown of Spring Green, Wis., and his family continue to mourn the loss. Solomon was heavily involved in campus organizations that are expressing their grief.
“Beau holds a special place in our hearts,” College Republicans of UW-Madison said on their Facebook page. “And tonight we remember the good times we've had, and keep his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers. Rest easy Beau, we will miss you.”
UPDATE July 6 12:42 p.m.: This story was updated to correct an inaccurate date.
