(AGENCIES – December 31st)
Argentine police arrested on Friday (December 30) a 30-year local man in connection with the attack on an Australian tourist who was missing in the woods for almost four days.
Twenty-three-year old Emma Kevky from Sydney was visiting friends in the town of El Bolson, a backpackers destination some 75 miles (120 kilometres) south of Bariloche, when she decided to take a hike in a mountainous region of the Argentine Patagonia
According to authorities, the young woman said a 30 to 40-year-old man hit her on the head with a rock and choked her until she passed out. He then attacked her and took her shoes and shirt to prevent her from running away, police said.
Police sub-commissioner Walter Lucero (loo-SEH-row) said the suspect matches Kevky’s description. On Saturday (December 31), he will be taken to court in the city of Bariloche for identification.
“Yesterday, we took a person into custody who is suspected of having been involved in this. Obviously, he is being investigated within the framework of the case and he will be transferred to Bariloche (city where court is located) and, tomorrow, this young man will also be transferred so there can be an identification (line-up),” Lucero said.
Authorities are still investigating whether the suspect has a police record but said they have evidence linking him to the crime.
“A few minutes ago, I returned from a raid where we seized items that indicated evidence that this person was directly involved in this,” Lucero said.
With only a day’s worth of food, Kevky survived in the woods for three days before police search parties eventually discovered her, disoriented and dehydrated.
She was treated at a local hospital but officials have not released information about her current whereabouts or condition.