Expatriates no longer safe as 35-year old American woman found dead in mysterious circumstances

zainab quadri

January 11, 2016 11:56 AM

An American expatriate was found dead in her apartment in mysterious circumstances.

35-year old American woman found dead in mysterious circumstances

A murder investigation has been launched after Ashley Olsen, a 35-year-old originally from Florida, was discovered on Saturday with bruises and scratches on her neck.

Local authorities questioned her boyfriend but said they have no suspects at this point in the investigation.

Italy's police chief, Alessandro Pansa, was quoted by the ANSA news agency as saying: "What happened in Florence is getting the maximum attention to find out what it's all about."

Local TV stations reported that Ms Olsen's body was found on a bed and that she was identified by her father, who is believed to work as a teacher in a nearby school.

The reports indicated that her boyfriend, an Italian-born artist, had become worried after he did not hear from Ms Olsen for several days - prompting him to ask the apartment's owner to open the door.

A friend, who only gave her first name as Amy, told the AP news agency: "I can't imagine a person who would hurt her. She is a gentle, a kind, a beautiful, friendly, lovely girl and it's an awful shock."

Georgette Jupe, who knew Ms Olsen casually, told AP: "I would hope for her sake that this investigation is more clear." Ms Jupe said Ms Olsen was involved in fashion and had moved a few years ago to Florence, where her father works as a professor.

Social media groups for expats living in Florence expressed the same sentiment.

Others said they hoped the police investigation and media reporting into Ms Olsen's killing would not become a repeat of the high-profile 2007 murder case of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, south of Florence.