A murder investigation was underway Sunday after the body of an American woman was found in her apartment in Florence, Italian police said, NBC News reported.
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Olsen was a familiar presence in the Florence neighborhood of Santo Spirito, where she lived with her pet Beagle, Scout, according to the AP.
Police also declined to comment on Italian news reports that Olsen’s boyfriend, described as an Italian artist living in Florence, became anxious when he didn’t hear from the woman for a few days and asked the apartment’s owner to open the door.
Her body was formally identified by her father, who teaches at a school in Florence, according to local TV and newspaper reports.
Ashley Olsen was discovered on Saturday with bruises and scratches on her neck. Both the victim’s boyfriend and friends are said to have spoken to investigators at length.
Alexandra Lawrence, a 17-year resident of Florence who said she did not know Ms Olsen, expressed similar sentiment.
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”.
On her social media pages, Olsen shared many pictures of herself beside her beloved dog, Scout, showing the pair appearing to enjoy life in Florence.
Last summer, she flew to her family home in Florida, before returning to Italy and visiting the Tuscan island of Elba with her partner.
Friends and other expats expressed hope that the case wouldn’t end up repeating the flawed, flip-flopping investigation into the high-profile murder case of Meredith Kercher. Another man was convicted and is serving a 16-year sentence.
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She said: “We’ve been through this terribly unresolved mystery with Amanda Knox”.
