Police Prepare to Release Suspects in Eldar Dayan Case Amid Unclear Cause of Death

Nearly a month after Eldar Dayan's disappearance, the investigation into his death has reached a critical juncture. All seven suspects involved in the case are expected to be released from custody following the failure of the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute to determine Dayan's cause of death. A hearing is scheduled for Monday afternoon at the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court, where police will request house arrest for the suspects, while their defense attorneys are likely to oppose restrictive conditions.

Initially, Omri Peretz and Maxim Barberman were suspected of premeditated murder. However, the forensic report's inconclusive findings have significantly weakened the murder charges. These two suspects may now face drug-related and vehicular assault charges, though the list of offenses could change based on prosecutorial decisions. The other five suspects, Yosef Wobnech, Angada Sisay, Avraham Vorko, Almaken Adona, and Moshe Reta, are accused of jointly assaulting Dayan and two friends on July 18 near the Yarkon River following a dispute over drugs. Police state Dayan died shortly after the attack but have not confirmed the assault as the direct cause of death.

The investigation began as a missing person case, with Dayan last seen near the Yellow gas station in Petah Tikva without visible injuries. Despite four searches and reenactments of the area, his remains were only found in the same vicinity where he was last recorded alive. Notably, Dayan's mobile phone remains missing, depriving investigators of crucial information about his final movements. Forensic experts noted that animal activity likely destroyed soft tissues, complicating the determination of the cause of death. The partial skeletal remains prevented a full autopsy, leaving the cause of death undetermined.

During the investigation, conflicting testimonies emerged. Peretz and Barberman claimed Dayan was unwell and that they bought him water before parting ways, but the exact events following their separation remain unclear. An alleged threat by Barberman to Dayan was also noted. A recent confrontation between the suspects aimed to clarify the events surrounding the assault and Dayan's death.

With the suspects' imminent release and no conclusive evidence to support murder charges, police and prosecutors are now considering alternative charges. The case remains unresolved, with key questions about how Dayan died still unanswered despite extensive searches, forensic analysis, and witness statements.