Threats Sent Before Leah Malka’s Killing Revealed as Police Review Continues

Newly published messages show that Leah Malka’s ex-partner, Chen Cohen, sent explicit threats to her and her family about two months before she was killed in an I-Route Ayalon bomb blast. Cohen, who is under arrest on suspicion of murdering the 35-year-old, allegedly wrote the threats amid a dispute over custody and visitation arrangements for their daughter, Hiley.

According to the report aired Tuesday on the main evening newscast, both Malka and her father filed complaints with police and passed the messages to investigators. Despite that, Malka was later killed. The threats included lines sent to her father such as, "I will sit 200 years for her, also to take revenge on whoever hurt us," "From Sunday you will move out," and "From Saturday night there will be a green light." He also allegedly told Malka’s mother, "You will be given the same thing" for separating a father from his daughter, and, "You will sleep with your eyes open."

The report also published an audio message Cohen allegedly sent to Malka, in which he called her a thief and demanded her identity card be returned by Sunday, saying he swore that Hiley, identified in the text as Hiley Adle, would die if she did not comply. The police said the case files were handled "without fault," that Cohen was questioned for threats, and that the file was transferred to the prosecution unit with a recommendation for indictment. Police added that in the two complaints already on file, no threats against Malka herself were raised.