Beau Solomon, the U.S. college student who went missing after arriving in Rome, Italy for a study abroad program, has been found dead. A homeless man has been charged with his murder.

Beau Solomon

Solomon’s body was found in the Tiber River Monday. The 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who was set to study at Rome’s John Cabot University, went missing in the early hours of Friday morning. He was last seen at a pub. During the day on Friday, Solomon’s roommate became “worried when he did not see Beau at orientation,” according to a press release put out by John Cabot University.

Massimo Galioto, 40, a local homeless man, has been fingered as the culprit by investigators. Galiota has been charged with aggravated murder, a police spokesperson told NBC News.

Solomon’s friends and family back in Wisconsin are morning the loss of the young student. His brother, Cole Solomon, remembered his brother for his courage in battling childhood cancer. “He had over 15 to 20 procedures growing up throughout his life and was able to overcome all that,” he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

U.S. Ambassador to Italy, John Phillips, sent his condolences to the Solomon family:

“I was saddened to learn of the tragic death of Beau Solomon. My heart goes out to his family and friends. The U.S. Embassy stands ready to provide support to Italian authorities investigating his disappearance and death.”

Leave a comment

Read more about: