American Troy Bohling, 31, confessed to charges of murder, rape, attempted murder, and possession of child porn at the start of his trial in Germany on Monday. The horrifying incident took place near the Marienbruecke, a bridge close to the Neuschwanstein castle, a popular tourist site that attracts over a million visitors annually.

Bohling lured two American women, Eva Liu and Kelsey Chang, aged 21 and 22, away from a hiking trail on June 14. Liu tragically succumbed to her injuries after Bohling pushed her off a cliff with a 165-foot drop, while Chang survived with significant injuries after being attacked as she tried to intervene.

Authorities discovered child pornography on Bohling's laptop and cellphone, which included images of his younger sister. The defendant admitted to the charges, although formal pleas are not entered in the German legal system. Bohling's defense lawyer described the crime as "unfathomable".

Bohling's peaceful facade was shattered by this brutal crime, as he was known as a quiet and reclusive individual by neighbors and former classmates. Despite a previous charge of embezzlement in 2016, which was dropped, those who knew him described him as introverted and harmless, making the heinous act he committed shocking and incomprehensible to those who knew him.