Ashley Olsen Italy, Arrest In Murder Case?

© The Florentine/Courtesy of Ashley Oslen friends via AP

Ashley Olsen: man held on suspicion of American's murder in Florence - A man has been arrested in Florence on suspicion of the murder of Ashley Olsen, an American woman whose death last week sent shockwaves through the Italian city’s art community where she was well-known.

Tidiane Cheik Diaw was arrested overnight on charges of aggravated murder, following DNA tests on Olsen’s body and the collection of evidence from her apartment where she died.

The prosecutor Giuseppe Creazzo said there was “strong evidence of guilt” against the accused, including DNA taken from a cigarette butt and a condom found in the apartment. Diaw, a Senegalese national, was allegedly found in possession of Olsen’s phone and had inserted his own sim card. He had entered Italy illegally a few months ago with the aim of joining his brother, Creazzo said.

Olsen, 35, originally from Summer Haven, Florida, was found in her apartment on Saturday afternoon by her boyfriend Federico Fiorentini, who said he had become worried after not hearing from her following an argument. The landlady let him into the studio flat where he found Olsen lying naked on her bed. An autopsy found that she had been strangled with an object such as a cord or rope and suffered two head fractures.

A high-profile murder investigation was launched to find Olsen’s killer, who was thought to have known the victim as there was no sign of forced entry in the apartment.

Olsen was last seen in the early hours of Friday morning in the Montecarla club, about a 15-minute walk from her home in the Santo Spirito neighbourhood. According to locals the club attracts a mixed crowd looking to party after Florence’s bars close. The Montecarla has been temporarily shut by authorities on a number of occasions over allegations that drugs were being sold at the venue.

After going to Montecarla with friends, Olsen is believed to have left with her alleged killer. CCTV footage showed Olsen and another person walking towards her apartment on Via Santa Monaca.

Her body was found with scratches on the neck. There were no signs of a struggle with her attacker. Tests revealed she had sex shortly before her death and was not sexually assaulted. The results of further lab tests are expected later this month and will disclose whether there were drugs or alcohol in Olsen’s system when she died.