Tzvi Gur, who kidnapped and murdered 8-year-old Oron Yarden in 1980, died of cancer on Friday at the age of 74.
Gur has been imprisoned for 41 years in Ma’asiyahu Prison in Ramle. His release was scheduled for 2025, having been sentenced to 45 years for the murder.
On Tuesday, he was released to Shamir Medical Center in Tzrifin following a deterioration in his condition, according to Israeli media.
Oron Yarden was kidnapped from his house in Savyon, in central Israel, by Gur on June 8, 1980. Gur demanded two million Israeli liras (4.7 million NIS at the time) for Yarden’s release.
Gur received the ransom but was caught by police after he deposited some of the money in his bank account.
An Israeli prison guard is seen through a gate at Maasiyahu prison near Ramle, south of Tel Aviv, Israel February 15, 2016. Former Israeli Prime Minister Olmert begins his 19-month prison sentence at Maasiyahu prison on Monday, making him the first former head of government in Israel to go to prison (credit: BAZ RATNER/REUTERS)
His sentence was the longest ever served in Israel, according to Israeli media.
“Murdering an 8-year-old is unforgivable,” said the Yarden family attorneys, in their name. “The murderer was imprisoned to this day and now he will pay for his crimes in his death.”
Comments are closed.