Israeli Authorities Solve 2022 Double Murder After Linking Suspect to Later Killing
The 2022 double murder of Yehuda and Tamar Kaduri in Jerusalem remained unsolved for three years despite extensive investigations involving two separate police teams exploring multiple leads. The breakthrough came only after the suspect, Waseem Asaad, was arrested by the Shin Bet in 2025 for unrelated terrorism charges linked to ISIS. Asaad had been held under administrative detention for three years and committed another murder just one week after his release.
Repeated searches of Asaad's mother's home eventually uncovered a storage room containing a black and green bag and a pair of shoes with a tiny bloodstain. Forensic tests confirmed the blood belonged to Yehuda Kaduri, providing the "golden evidence" prosecutors had sought to conclusively link Asaad to the 2022 murders. Asaad had already given detailed confessions describing the crime scene and actions, but authorities insisted on independent forensic proof.
According to the Jerusalem District Court ruling, Asaad entered Israel with the intent to kill Jews for ideological reasons. He followed Yehuda Kaduri to his home in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood, murdered Tamar Kaduri inside their unlocked apartment, then waited and killed Yehuda upon his return. Asaad remained in the apartment for hours, cleaning the murder weapon and stealing valuables before locking the door behind him.
The investigation initially faced challenges due to unclear video footage and multiple false leads, including questioning family members. The case only connected after Asaad's arrest for the 2025 murder of Ivan Tirnovsky, a Moldovan worker in Jerusalem. DNA evidence on the murder weapon linked Asaad to both crimes. His confessions detailed multiple attacks, including a 2019 attempted murder of a Jewish girl.
During the trial, Asaad denied the charges, alleging coercion and planted evidence, but the court found his confessions credible and corroborated by forensic findings. He was convicted of three murders, two attempted murders, and membership in ISIS, receiving three life sentences plus 40 years. The court classified the Kaduri murders as exceptionally severe, barring early release. Prosecutors and investigators described the case as a painful but necessary pursuit of justice, providing the Kaduri family some measure of closure after years of uncertainty.
