Episode 03 — Study Abroad Gone Wrong in Italy: Amanda Knox

Italy

Oct 7

Listen here…

What the hell happened…

Hey everyone! Emilia here…

Today’s case is a BIG one. One of the biggest cases in the world of True Crime that has shaken the world for years.

Amanda Knox, a university student from Seattle, Washington left for a year abroad in the picturesque town of Perugia, Italy. A year of learning Italian, strolling down cobble-stoned streets, and enjoying the italian dolce vita. Sounds like every student’s dream right?

It was…until her roommate Mereditch Kercher was found dead in their shared apartment.

So what started as a normal study abroad experience quickly turned into a nightmare for Amanda, as Italian police began questioning her and eventually arrested her as a suspect in the case.

The investigation quickly turned into a huge media frenzy worldwide.
This case ended up affecting not just the victim, Meredith, but also changing the course of Amanda’s life.

As always, I’m not going to spoil all the details for those of you haven’t heard the episode…so listen to the full story below, and come back and tell us what you think in the comments!!!

Listen here:

About Amanda…

➙ Convicted at 22, now 37 years old
➙From Seattle, Washington
➙ Went to Perugia, Italy to pursue her Linguistics Degree from the University of Washington

About Meredith…

➙ 21 years old
➙ From London, UK
➙ Affectionally known as “Mez”

This case is so shocking because the reality is that it affected two victims:

First, Meredith, who was brutally murdered, but was overshadowed by the media frenzy surrounding Amanda Knox, leaving Meredith herself often forgotten in the chaos. Her family asked for justice and the truth for years. But also, Amanda, who always maintained her innocence and whose life was changed forever by this case.

Where it happened…Perugia, Italy

Perugia is a charming hilltop town in Italy, The streets are narrow and winding, with medieval stone buildings that make it feel like you’re walking through a different era. It’s such an Italian postcard. And because it’s perched on a hill, the view is amazing from every corner. Sweeping views of the Italian countryside as far as the eye can see.

And the food..in true Italian fashion, is incredible. Perugia is especially famous for its chocolate, and it is home to the Eurochocolate festival every year. But it’s also famous for its art and history, and for its University Town, which attracts a lot of foreign exchange students like Amanda.

Just a 2-hour drive from both Florence and Rome, Perugia is a lovely stop along the way between those two bigger destinations.

Who else was involved?

Embed from Getty Images

Raffaelle Sollecito | Photo from Getty Images

Raffaelle was Amanda’s Italian boyfriend. He was studying computer science at the University of Perugia at the time. Throughout the case, Rafaelle maintained his innocence, claiming he had no involvement in the crime.

Embed from Getty Images

Rudy Guede | Photo from Getty Images

Rudy Guede is an Ivory Coast-born man who became a central figure in the murder of Meredith. Guede was the only person definitively convicted for the crime, but he was freed on November 2021 after a 16-year sentence.

Everything else we mentioned in this episode…

In this episode, Alexa and I discover the website InjusticeinPerugia.com, a website dedicated to the wrongful conviction of Amanda and Raffaelle. In it you can find a lot of information about the case, from a breakdown of everyone involved, to appeal documents and evidence photos (like the ones below).

We also discuss the footprint in the bath mat theory from these two photos.
Listen to episode, and let us know what you think about the footprint in the comments!