Murdered Granddaughter

Jeremy Last - Tuesday 26th August 2008


The shocking death of a four year old Netanya girl who was allegedly killed her by her grandfather, packed into a suitcase and thrown into the Yarkon river, has gripped Israel.

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Rose Ron has been missing since May this year, but her disappearance was only reported to Israeli police by her great grandmother Vivienne just over two weeks ago.

Although the child's grandfather, Ronny Ron, admitted manslaughter to officers investigating the case, a gag order was imposed on the case preventing media from revealing the details as an appeal was made for witnesses.

Over the weekend some details were announced and Israel's national newspapers carried lengthy stories on Sunday asking readers to provide information if they knew anything about the child's whereabouts. A 24 hour police hot line was also set up by the Central Unit's Criminal Investigation Division.

However rumours had begun to circulate that Rose was in fact dead, and on Tuesday the Ramle District Court lifted the gag order.
Rose's mother Marie, a non-Jewish French immigrant, appeared in court on Tuesday alongside Ronny.

One police commander was quoted by the Ha'aretz newspaper as saying it is one of the most gruesome cases in Israeli police history.

"I have handled many investigations but I can't recall a single other investigation that turned all of our stomachs, that investigators came out of briefings with tears in their eyes," the central district police commander said.

Police confirmed that Marie had moved to Israel after splitting up with her husband, Ronny's son Benjamin.

The couple had lived in France but the relationship turned sour and they split up a few years ago when Marie holidayed in Israel and decided to stay there while Benjamin returned to France with Rose, their daughter.
In a dramatic twist to the story Marie fell in love with her former father in law, Ronny, the couple married, had two children and began a custody battle over Rose after discovering that the young girl had been a victim of physical abuse in France.

"They had a good feeling that they were heading toward reunification.
There was anticipation that this would be good for everyone, and especially for the girl," said attorney Revital Swaid, who represents the couple.
Eventually Rose was brought to Israel in December last year, but Ronny and Marie were unable to cope with the child who was not functioning normally - unable to speak French or Hebrew properly and reportedly defecating in her clothes.

In the end they gave her to Ronny's mother Vivienne to look after, however one day Ronny is believed to have had an argument with Vivienne and taken the child away in his car. It was then that he allegedly became frustrated with Rose and hit her, killing her mistakenly.

"After giving Rose the slap that killed her, he panicked," Sweid said of her client, who said he then packed her into a suitcase and threw it into the river.

Police have been searching the area where Ronny said he dumped the suitcase but no bag has been found.

Vivienne was released to house arrest while Marie and Ronny are still remanded in custody.

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