Italian authorities are investigating two 20-year-olds after an American student reported being drugged and sexually assaulted at a beach party in Punta Marina, a resort near Ravenna, on the night of August 25.
The 19-year-old victim, in Italy for a cultural exchange, claims she was given a “date rape drug” before being attacked. The investigation is currently focused on the two suspects as police work to determine whether such a drug was used.
According to Corriere della Sera, a leading Italian news outlet, the young woman confided in the mother of her host family before contacting her family in the U.S. She then went to a nearby hospital for an examination but returned to the U.S. shortly after.
Legal support for the woman is being provided by lawyer Angelo Stirone, while prosecutors led by Lucrezia Ciriello are overseeing the investigation. The suspects are being defended by lawyers Giovanni Scudellari and Maria Teresa Rizzo.
Local authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby clubs as part of their efforts to gather evidence.
This troubling case comes just a few months after another horrifying attack involving two American students in Sicily. In July, two women were raped after being separated by their attackers in Siracusa. The two suspects, both locals aged 18 and 19, allegedly took advantage of the women’s unfamiliarity with Italian customs, offering assistance at a cigarette vending machine before launching their assault.
The suspects were arrested just two days later and charged with aggravated sexual assault. The victims, also studying in Italy, immediately reported the incident, allowing police to act swiftly.
Both cases have raised serious concerns about the safety of foreign students and tourists in Italy, as local authorities continue to investigate these disturbing incidents.
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