MONROE - For Monroe's Austin Murphy, the tragic story of his cousin, Beau Solomon, brought a tidal wave of emotions that he is still sorting out three days after the body of the University of Wisconsin-Madison student was found in the Italian capital.
Austin's mother, Tara Murphy of Monroe, is the cousin of Beau's mother, Jodi Solomon. Austin and Beau were second cousins who often shared their love of sports during family reunions and holidays.
Solomon, 19, was a personal finance major at Wisconsin entering his sophomore year.
He was also an avid football player and athlete, Tara Murphy said.
"We were devastated," she said. "I have so many memories of Austin and Beau playing together. He was such an outstanding person and athlete. He was such a good friend to everyone."
Austin Murphy had just finished playing in a Fourth of July soccer tournament in Monroe when he found out about his missing cousin.
"It was an out-of-body experience when my mom called after my soccer tournament July 4," he said. "It didn't feel real. I had never lost someone so close to me. It still doesn't even feel like it's real now."
Solomon, a 2015 River Valley High School graduate, went missing shortly after he arrived in Italy on June 30 for an exchange program at John Cabot University.
Tara said Solomon went to an espresso bar with friends after arriving in the Italian capital on Thursday and offered to pay the bill. He planned to meet his friends outside.
"His friends waited and waited, and he didn't come," Tara said. "They thought he walked back."
It was early Friday when his friends last saw him at the pub. He was found in the Tiber River on Monday.
A homeless man, Massimo Galioto, 40, of Rome was detained and is suspected of murdering Solomon. According to the Associated Press, Solomon's credit cards had been used in Milan soon after he vanished, with more than $1,500 in new charges.
Initial autopsy findings indicate there was water in Solomon's lungs, meaning he would have been alive when he ended up in the water, AP reported.
Solomon was involved in forensics and student council and was a mentor to other students at River Valley High School. Solomon battled childhood cancer and was a survivor.
Tara said cancer made him stronger.
"He (Beau) is a survivor," Tara said. "It proved how strong of a person he was. Just growing up you never knew he would have those chances."
His parents, Nick and Jodi Solomon, traveled to Rome in an effort to bring the body back to the United States for a burial and funeral service. The Solomons met Pope Francis on Wednesday.
Murphy said the family may have a service for Solomon on Sunday.
"The family is guessing we will have a wake or a funeral on Sunday," Austin said.
"He was such a great person," Austin added. "He got along with everyone. We would always talk shop about sports. No matter what came his way and what he had to overcome including the cancer, he always had a smile on his face."
Austin's mother, Tara Murphy of Monroe, is the cousin of Beau's mother, Jodi Solomon. Austin and Beau were second cousins who often shared their love of sports during family reunions and holidays.
Solomon, 19, was a personal finance major at Wisconsin entering his sophomore year.
He was also an avid football player and athlete, Tara Murphy said.
"We were devastated," she said. "I have so many memories of Austin and Beau playing together. He was such an outstanding person and athlete. He was such a good friend to everyone."
Austin Murphy had just finished playing in a Fourth of July soccer tournament in Monroe when he found out about his missing cousin.
"It was an out-of-body experience when my mom called after my soccer tournament July 4," he said. "It didn't feel real. I had never lost someone so close to me. It still doesn't even feel like it's real now."
Solomon, a 2015 River Valley High School graduate, went missing shortly after he arrived in Italy on June 30 for an exchange program at John Cabot University.
Tara said Solomon went to an espresso bar with friends after arriving in the Italian capital on Thursday and offered to pay the bill. He planned to meet his friends outside.
"His friends waited and waited, and he didn't come," Tara said. "They thought he walked back."
It was early Friday when his friends last saw him at the pub. He was found in the Tiber River on Monday.
A homeless man, Massimo Galioto, 40, of Rome was detained and is suspected of murdering Solomon. According to the Associated Press, Solomon's credit cards had been used in Milan soon after he vanished, with more than $1,500 in new charges.
Initial autopsy findings indicate there was water in Solomon's lungs, meaning he would have been alive when he ended up in the water, AP reported.
Solomon was involved in forensics and student council and was a mentor to other students at River Valley High School. Solomon battled childhood cancer and was a survivor.
Tara said cancer made him stronger.
"He (Beau) is a survivor," Tara said. "It proved how strong of a person he was. Just growing up you never knew he would have those chances."
His parents, Nick and Jodi Solomon, traveled to Rome in an effort to bring the body back to the United States for a burial and funeral service. The Solomons met Pope Francis on Wednesday.
Murphy said the family may have a service for Solomon on Sunday.
"The family is guessing we will have a wake or a funeral on Sunday," Austin said.
"He was such a great person," Austin added. "He got along with everyone. We would always talk shop about sports. No matter what came his way and what he had to overcome including the cancer, he always had a smile on his face."