Amanda Knox has become something of a household name in recent years after the explosive murder trial in Italy that riveted the world and spawned its own movie. Now, following the discovery of an American woman who was apparently strangled to death in Florence, many are recalling the Knox trial and the massive media attention that came with it, and are hoping this case isn’t more of the same.
Former Florida resident Ashley Olsen (who is not related to the famous Olsen twins) was an artist with a love for the fashion world and had moved to Florence just in the last few years. Olsen was found with a bruised neck, and police have reportedly questioned her boyfriend but have not made an arrest and say they have no other suspects. Now, all eyes are on local authorities as they build an investigation, and many are fearful that the murder case will be another long, drawn-out affair like Amanda Knox’s was.
“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. We’ve got a great community here of people and everyone loved her,” said a friend who called herself Amy.
Amanda Knox and her former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were convicted twice and eventually acquitted of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in 2007. The case was highly sensationalized due, in part, to Knox’s attractive appearance, and to the lengthy investigation which reportedly held many errors.
“I would hope for her sake that this investigation is more clear,” said writer Georgette Jupe, an acquaintance of Ashley Olsen’s.
“We’ve been through this terribly unresolved mystery with Amanda Knox,” said Florence resident Alexandra Lawrence. “You never want it to get to that point.”
