Man kills son before jumping in front of a train
Manhunt for 49-year-old Ilan Gadasi of Ra'anana concludes with his apparent suicide after stabbing his wife, battering his 3-year-old son to death at Beit Yehoshua railway station.
A father from Ra'anana murdered his infant son Monday before committing suicide by jumping in front of a train at the Beit Yehoshua railway station in central Israel.
Ilan Gadasi, 49, ran off with his son, Evyatar, whose body was found by the police in a vehicle parked outside the train station, bearing severe signs of violence. The child was apparently hit over the head with a blunt object.
Israel Railways personnel spotted the car near the scene of the man's suicide and called in the police. Law enforcement officers were rushed to the scene—along with Magen David Adom paramedics—and launched an investigation.
Police confirmed the vehicle belonged to the father who took his son from their home on Sunday. A manhunt against Gadasi was underway immediately after he stabbed and lightly wounded his wife Tali, 41.
One of the neighbors said the family had moved to the building 18 months ago and that Tali appeared to be a "sad woman."
Another neighbor said Ilan's relationship with his son Evyatar was very clear, while a third added that he was a "warm, pleasant person who always said hello."
"The mother was extremely patient with the children and their shenanigans. We didn't hear noise from them. Overall it seemed like a very normal family without fights," one of the neighbors said.
The couple were apparently embroiled in conflict, but it remained unclear what transpired between them before Gadasi's wife was stabbed and his son taken from their Ra'anana home.
The family was not known to law or welfare authorities in Ra'anana and according to a police statement, "There was no sign that could have indicated that the incident would end the way it did."
Testimony from people familiar with Gadasi also attests to the fact that the murder came as a complete surprise.
“They moved here a year-and-a-half ago. The child was his whole world and I heard him many times telling him stories,” recalled one neighbor. “It seemed as though everything was fine.”
Following the incident, train traffic in both directions was halted Monday night. A message by Israel Railways said northbound trains would be terminated in Netanya, whereas southbound trains would be stopped at Tel Aviv's Savidor Central station. Other trains may also be delayed.
Two days ago, the police received a complaint via their Facebook page claiming that Tali had informed a friend that she had been assaulted during a dispute.
The friend decided to report the incident to the police and noted that Tali had been attacked by Gadasi.
The two were in their second marriage, and Tali has another 7-year-old daughter from her previous marriage.
Arriving at the family home, police kicked in the front door and found Tali with scratches on her body with her daughter.
After the investigation, the police discovered that at 5am, Ilan left the home after a serious argument with his wife during which he stabbed her, taking Evyatar with him.
Police say that Gadasi left no suicide note and did not tell his friends about his plans to kill his so and then himself.
