Father confesses to killing his 3 children in Netanya

Suspect attempted to commit suicide 6 times, spent time in psychiatric hospital; childrens' mother complained 4 times of violent outbursts; family blames social services for not intervening.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Netanya Murder 311 (photo credit: Channel 10)
Netanya Murder 311
(photo credit: Channel 10)
The father of three young children admitted to stabbing them to death at his Netanya apartment Saturday.

Itai Ben Dror was found in the apartment attempting to cut his wrist veins. 
RELATED:TA: 2 dead in haredi murder-suicideSuspect arrested for Rehovot murderThe three children, Omer (10), Roni (8) and Or (5) were found covered in blood under a blanket and were later pronounced dead by Magen David Adom medics.All three suffered from multiple stabbings to their bodies.After receiving treatment from MDA crews, Ben Dror was escorted by police to Laniado hospital.Ben Dror's father phoned police and rescue crews Saturday morning, fearing that his son was attempting to commit suicide after he spoke with him on the phone. After finding numerous letters written by Ben Dror, police discovered that the 38-year-old suffered from a history of psychiatric problems including depression and was recently discharged from a psychiatric hospital. Police reported that he had tried to kill himself at least six times in the past. Army radio reported that police suspect that Ben Dror planned the murders in advance after the grandfather told police that his son had recently told him that " the children will be with me until the day I die."He had separated from the childrens' mother, Lilach Ben Dror, not long ago and moved into the house where the crime scene was located.Lilach Ben Dror complained to police four times of violent outbursts and attempted rape by the father but no restraining order was ever issued against him.
Lilach Ben Dror lives in Beit Horia in Netanya and is currently mourning the death of her father.Gila Sivoni, the childrens' aunt, children said "We are dealing with a murderer, and this was known in advance."Sivoni, Lilach Ben Dror's sister said that she blames social services for not intervening when they were aware of the situation."They pressured her into giving the father the right to see the children, even though the writing was on the wall," Sivoni said about the social services in Kfar Yona.Ben Dror was expected to spend the night at Laniado Hospital and then Sunday he will appear in court in Ramle.Chief of the Sharon police district, Shimon Shomroni, told Army Radio about the events leading upto the discovery of the bodies. "The grandfather called the police and MDA to report an unusual incident occurring at his son's residence. We entered the apartment and found the three children in the bed with their father while they lay dead and he was suffering from light injuries," Shomroni explained."The events here are very tragic...and we are on our way to notify the mother," the chief said.According to the chief, the murder was planned in advance. Police Commissioner Insp.-Gen. Dudi Cohen reacted to the murders saying that "we are dealing with a very serious incident."He added that because of the complexity of the investigation the central district police unit will now take over.