Phone stalker who ‘harassed widow’ arrested

Police arrested a 35-year-old man from the central region on Tuesday evening on suspicion of phone stalking several women, including the recent widow of Gadi Vichman, who was murdered in May after asking youths to keep the noise down.

Detectives from the Negev police subdistrict’s central unit acted on a number of complaints from women, including Vichman’s widow, before eventually homing in on the suspect, a married father who works as a driver.

The suspect appeared before the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, which extended his custody by five days.

“We’re only at the start of the investigation,” a Negev police source said. Police are expected to question the suspect over the coming days to receive his version of events and match it with the evidence in their possession.

Vichman’s widow, Michal, began receiving disturbing calls from a stalker who uttered sexual messages as she attempted to come to terms with her sudden loss.

The stalker told Michal he was watching her entering her balcony and made several sexual innuendos, she told Ma’ariv.

Detectives provided Michal with instructions on how to respond to the calls and how to record the conversations.

She expressed relief following the arrest, and thanked the police for the swift arrest.