Safed Kidnapping Mystery Deepens
Dramatic Twist in Search for Missing Girl: Why the Suspect in Hymanut Kassou's Case Might Walk Free
Police are scrambling to keep a key suspect behind bars as new allegations of crimes against minors surface, even as the 60 year old man provides a distant alibi for the night Hymanut Kassou vanished.
The disappearance of Hymanut Kassou has remained one of Israel’s most painful and baffling unsolved mysteries for nearly two years. The young girl, an immigrant from Ethiopia, was last seen on the evening of February 25, 2024, entering an absorption center in the northern city of Safed. Despite massive nationwide search efforts involving thousands of volunteers, military technology, and elite police units, no trace of her was ever found. The case has been marked by several dead ends and false leads, leaving the Safed community and the Kassou family in a state of perpetual grief. The latest development involving a new suspect represents the first significant movement in the case in several months.
New Allegations Surface
The investigation into her disappearance, which has haunted the city of Safed for months, took a sharp turn this week. While the suspect was initially detained in connection to the missing girl, he is now facing additional, severe allegations. According to reports, the man is also suspected of committing an indecent act against a 12.5 year old girl in Be'er Sheva, as well as assault and obstruction of justice.
Despite these heavy charges, the suspect continues to deny any involvement in the Hymanot Kassou case. He has provided investigators with an alibi, claiming that at the time Hymanot vanished from Safed, he was living in Be'er Sheva, hundreds of kilometers away.
The Police Dilemma
A police official explained that the investigation was reignited after Haymanot’s family provided specific information about this individual. "Haymanot's family members gave information about him, and the matter is being checked by investigators. It is our duty to turn over every stone to reach the truth. We are going over the entire case and new testimonies," the official stated.
However, the case remains stalled as no definitive breakthrough has occurred. While the man’s version of events in Safed is being scrutinized, his actions in Be'er Sheva have raised major red flags for the Lahav 433 team. "It is quite strange and puzzling to us that a 60 year old man enters the home of a 12.5 year old girl. There are many questions here. His version does not align with the girl's version," the official added.
Searching for the Truth
Hymanot Kassou was last seen in February, and the case has become one of the most high profile missing persons investigations in Israel. The current suspect’s history and his alleged behavior toward other minors have kept him in the crosshairs of the law, even if the direct link to Safed is currently under debate.
As the court prepares to hear the request for a second extension of his detention, the public remains hopeful that these new leads will eventually provide an answer for the Kasau family. For now, the investigation continues to move between the Galilee and the Negev as detectives try to reconcile conflicting testimonies and a difficult alibi.