American Woman Found Dead In Italy Was Strangled

Investigators based in Florence’s prosecutors’ offices stressed that after questioning the 35-year-old woman’s boyfriend, who is an Italian artist in the city, as well as friends of Olsen they haven’t put anyone under investigation.

Police in Florence say the autopsy on Olsen’s body confirms that she was strangled to death.

As Radar previously reported, Olsen was found Saturday afternoon, after her boyfriend (whom she’d allegedly had a fight with days prior) hadn’t heard from her and reported her missing.

Nine weeks ago she shared several pictures apparently taken of her without her consent and suggested she had a stalker.

According to the Associated Press, Olsen was at a nightclub with friends Thursday night. “What happened in Florence is getting the maximum attention to find out what it’s all about”, said Italy’s police chief, Alessandro Pansa.

CNN reports that no one is being excluded in the death investigation of Ashley Olsen in Florence, according to prosecutor Giuseppe Creazzo.

Someone wrote two tributes to her in graffiti sprayed onto the building, writing “I love you Ashley” and, “He is guilty, he will pay”.

A resident of Florence’s fashionable bohemian neighborhood Santo Spirito, Olsen was known in the community not only for her work in the fashion industry, but also, according to the New York Post, for her pet beagle Scout, who accompanied her on walks through the city.

Authorities questioned Olsen’s boyfriend, a local artist, Saturday but said they have no suspects so far.

“I can’t imagine a person who would hurt her. She is a gentle, a kind, a attractive, friendly, lovely girl and it’s an bad shock”, Amy, a friend who only gave her first name, said.

Friends and other expats expressed hope that the case wouldn’t end up repeating the flawed, flip-flopping investigation into the last high-profile murder case of a foreigner living in Italy, that of Meredith Kercher.

“While we mourn her passing we place our trust fully in the Italian authorities to investigate this tragic episode”. Her body was identified by her father, who also lives in Florence.

It is believed Olsen went out clubbing with friends and when they left the venue to go home, she stayed behind.

Knox was initially convicted of Kercher’s death (and sentenced to 26 years in prison), but was acquitted on appeal, convicted again and, in the final round of Italy’s circuitous justice system, acquitted.