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Israel Crime

Final Suspect Arrested in Dayan Murder

Police complete arrests of all members of group involved in fatal altercation with 23-year-old from Dimona; suspect apprehended during court hearing after days on the run

Fifth and Final Suspect Arrested in Eldar Dayan Murder Case

Israeli police concluded a complex manhunt on Tuesday with the arrest of the fifth and final suspect in the killing of Eldar Yitzhak Dayan, a 23-year-old from Dimona. The arrest took place during a court hearing on extending the detention of other suspects already in custody.

The capture completes the roundup of all members of a group that clashed with Dayan and his companions near Nahal Yarkon in Petah Tikva. According to investigators, the confrontation escalated into a violent assault that claimed the young man's life. Prosecutors requested an eight-day extension of detention for all suspects to continue investigating the circumstances of the incident.

The five suspects had arranged to meet Dayan and his friends at the location where the violent altercation erupted. Police made the arrests in stages: initially detaining two of the five, then announcing the arrest of two more, and finally apprehending the fifth suspect who had evaded authorities and remained at large.

According to police findings, during the confrontation the suspects kicked Dayan forcefully in the head, causing severe brain hemorrhaging. Investigators believe this brain injury ultimately led to his death.

צילום:  Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90
צילום: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90

Evidence from the investigation reveals that during the violent clash, Dayan and his companions attempted to flee the scene by getting into their vehicle. In the chaos of their escape, the car struck one member of the rival group, causing minor injuries.

The four suspects captured earlier had previously been questioned by police regarding their involvement in the fight, but in the initial stages investigators did not establish a direct connection to the killing itself. Now, with new evidence compiled and the manhunt complete, all four have been rearrested alongside the fifth suspect. They are being held on suspicion of direct involvement in the fatal incident.

Two of Dayan's own companions who were with him that night were also arrested in earlier stages of the investigation. During questioning, the two provided completely contradictory accounts that raised investigators' suspicions: while one claimed they were attacked and beaten by unknown assailants, the second denied the events occurred at all and offered a different version entirely.

These inconsistencies led to their arrest on suspicion of involvement in the killing. Investigators are now examining the full connection between all those involved from both groups. Police are also investigating whether Dayan was criminally abandoned while injured, examining whether his companions understood the severity of his medical condition but knowingly chose to leave him behind.

The dramatic case, which began as a distressing disappearance and quickly evolved into a serious murder investigation, gripped the nation for weeks. The ordeal started on July 16, when Eldar Dayan went out with friends. Hours later, he managed to send brief, troubling messages to his sister and girlfriend reading "mess, we'll talk," before all contact ceased and he vanished without a trace.

As part of the search efforts, police discovered an abandoned car in Petah Tikva last month with a shattered window and bloodstains. Approximately three weeks after his last communication, Dayan's body was found just 200 meters from where the vehicle had been abandoned.

Completing the manhunt and capturing all members of the group represents a significant step forward in the investigation, as detectives continue building a complete picture of events and examining each suspect's role in the killing.

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