"They parked the car and fled": the call to police after the disappearance of Eldar Dayan

Israel Police confirmed that the body found near Route 40 is that of Eldar Dayan, who had been missing for about three weeks. Two childhood friends who were with him before his disappearance are suspected of murder. The call to the police hotline describes a car with a broken window and blood. Dayan went out for a night out on July 16 and did not return.

Israel Police confirmed this evening (Thursday) that the body found this morning in the Petah Tikva area is that of Eldar Dayan, who had been missing for about three weeks. Two of his friends, who were with him in the last hours before his disappearance, are now suspected of murder. The court extended their detention by six days. The body was found in an open area near Route 40, during extensive searches by the Sharon District detectives, Petah Tikva police officers, Border Police fighters, and volunteers. It was found near the location where the car in which Dayan and his friends traveled was found. Clothing items attributed to Dayan were also found in the area. The body was not identified in the field and was transferred to the National Center for Forensic Medicine. After several hours, the police announced that the identification process was completed and that it was Dayan. The National Center for Forensic Medicine reported that a genetic match was found between the remains of the deceased and the missing person. Now the content of the call received by the police after the last time Dayan was seen alive can be published. A person at the gas station reported to the hotline about a car that arrived at the scene with a broken window and blood stains. Dayan, 22, from Dimona, went out on July 16 with two childhood friends for a night out in central Israel. At some point, he sent a message to his girlfriend: "There's a mess here, I'll talk to you when we get there." After that, his phone turned off. An examination of the sequence of events revealed that the three stayed at the "Bella" hotel in Tel Aviv, and later arrived at the Yarkon Park and Yarkon River area. According to testimonies, a brawl broke out there with another group. Dayan and his friends left the area, and in the early morning arrived at the nearby "Paz" gas station. His two friends were initially arrested on suspicion of involvement in his disappearance and after, according to suspicion, giving contradictory versions. They were also suspected of involvement in the brawl and running over one of the group members before fleeing the scene. Following the location and identification of the body, the suspicion against them was upgraded to murder.