Investigation into missing Israelis in Vienna: Police examine theory of voluntary departure
The investigation has been transferred to the Lahav 433 unit by order of the Police Commissioner. Authorities are checking the possibility that the mother and daughter packed their belongings, checked out of their hotel on Saturday morning, and left of their own volition. They were last seen near a train station.
A new development has emerged in the investigation into the disappearance of a mother and daughter in Vienna: police are now examining the possibility that the two were not kidnapped, but left their accommodation of their own volition on Saturday morning.
According to information currently under review, the mother and daughter remained at their location until Friday and were in contact with family members. Their hotel room was booked until Saturday; on that morning, they packed their belongings, checked out, and departed.
They were later spotted in the vicinity of a train station, but all traces of them were lost shortly thereafter, and contact has been severed since.
Following these developments, the investigation was transferred to the Lahav 433 unit by order of the Police Commissioner. Investigators are currently scrutinizing the circumstances of their departure, exploring the possibility that this is not a kidnapping case, as initially suspected.
Police continue to pursue all lines of inquiry, though at this stage, it remains unclear what became of the mother and daughter after they left the premises.
Moshe Yaalomi, Meli's brother, told "HaYom" this morning:
"The trip was a gift from Liel to Meli for her fiftieth birthday, which she celebrated last Thursday. Meli works as a manager at Bank Jerusalem, and Liel comes from a religious family and works at the furniture company 'Etz Male'."
Yaalomi added:
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the police are accompanying us and providing updates through specific contacts. The Modiin municipality is also making significant efforts to assist in every way and is in direct contact with the family through Ribi, the head of the mayor's office. At the family level, we have brought in the Magen company to assist with the investigation using their personnel on the ground."
As of this morning, Meli and Liel have been missing for five days, and the search continues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a situation room to handle the incident; the Austrian police have opened an investigation, and the family remains in constant contact with official Israeli authorities and the Israeli Ambassador to Austria, David Rot, who is managing the incident alongside embassy staff.
