A University of Wisconsin-Madison student who vanished just hours after arriving in Italy to study abroad has been found dead, and authorities have launched a criminal investigation.
Beau Solomon, a 19-year-old cancer survivor, disappeared after going to a bar in Rome with friends on Thursday night.
"It's a murder investigation," his brother Cole said.
Cole Solomon, 23, said his brother's body was found in the Tiber River with a wound on his head and blood on his shirt. Charges of thousands of dollars were made on Solomon's credit card after his disappearance, Cole Solomon said.
UW-Madison officials confirmed that Solomon's death was being treated as a criminal investigation by local authorities in Rome, and said the school was working with John Cabot University, as well as American and Italian authorities, to help his family and support the investigation.
"All of us at UW-Madison are greatly saddened by this loss," Chancellor Rebecca Blank said. "Beau was a bright and caring young man who lived the Wisconsin Idea through his work at Badger Boys State and his desire to travel and experience other cultures. Our hearts go out to Beau's family and friends at this difficult time."
The other UW-Madison students participating in the John Cabot University program are all safe and accounted for, university officials said.
Without citing names, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Monday that two people had come forward and told police they witnessed a person being thrown into the Tiber River.
Solomon's body was found without a wallet or cellphone, leading police to believe he was robbed before being thrown into the river, ANSA reported.
The witnesses reported seeing a group of people throw a young man from a bridge early Friday morning, according to La Repubblica. The newspaper reported that Solomon's credit card was used in Milan.
On Friday, John Cabot officials reported to Italian authorities and the American Embassy that Solomon was missing after arriving in Rome just one day before. The university said Solomon's roommate alerted school officials that he had lost contact with him about 1 a.m. Friday while they were together at a pub in the city, and was worried when he didn't see Solomon at orientation that morning.
"We express our most heartfelt condolences to the Solomon family and to all those who loved Beau," John Cabot University said in a statement released Monday.
In an interview Sunday with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Solomon's 26-year-old brother, Jake, described him as "an awesome brother" with "a big heart" who dreamed of becoming a lawyer. He also called him the "toughest S.O.B. that we've ever met."
The 19-year-old battled cancer for 10 years until the age of 12, after which he went on to participate in high school sports, work as a camp counselor for Badger Boys State and teach at youth quarterback camps around Wisconsin.
His parents, Nick and Jodi Solomon, left for Italy Sunday to assist in the search.
Beau was the third of four boys, and was especially close with Max, his 12-year-old brother, Jake Solomon said.
Solomon, a Spring Green native, had just completed his first year at UW-Madison in personal finance. He previously studied at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Richland.
John Cabot University, founded in 1972, describes itself as "An American university in the heart of Rome." The liberal arts school offers study abroad programs to English-speaking students from around the world.
UW-Madison officials said that, based on the investigation so far, there is no indication of a broader risk to students in Rome.
Counseling for UW-Madison students and staff is available through University Health Services, which can be reached at (608) 265-5600.
Originally Posted by songbirdsong
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