Residents of the Lod Chabad community fear the decomposed body found in an abandoned Beit Dagan building is that if missing neighbor Refael Mirilishvilli, who disappeared about a month ago.

Mirilishvilli was one of three people who heard the appeal of a heart-broken mother, trying to save her daughter from the clutches of an Arab male. According to reports from a number of Chabad and other chareidi news agencies, Mirilishvilli and two others put on IDF uniforms and stormed the Arab male’s home, telling him he is under arrest. As they were driving to away with the Arab male, he discovered it was being duped and he jumped out of their vehicle.

The three were placed under arrest and sentenced to jail about four years ago. Their jail terms were curtailed for good behavior. Associates of Refael explain that since then, he has not been able to find steady work, now with a ‘criminal’ record. He disappeared a number of weeks ago and the Chabad community believes the body found in Beit Dagan is his. DNA testing is underway but it will take a number of days to determine if the body is indeed the missing Chabadnik.

Various reports also quote Yad L’Achim’s Rav Sholom Dov Lifshitz as stating despite the obvious dangers, his organization’s work will continue towards rescuing women from such situations.

While the Chabad community has publicized it believes the body is indeed that of the missing man, a number of points remain unclear while additional information cannot be published after a gag order was slapped on the investigation surrounding the discovery of the body.

Chabad.info states the body was found handcuffed, stating with certainty that it is the body of Rafael and that police homicide detectives are investigating. Chabad online and others seem to indicate this may indeed be the case, with some adding the 25-year-old Refael was a coordinator for Yad L’Achim. His mother, Chani, seems to believe the case in which he was imprisoned four years ago is indeed connected to the finding of the body today.

Despite the media buzz in the chareidi community in Eretz Yisrael, particularly among Chabadnikim, nothing will be known for certain until DNA testing is completed.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)