42-year-old Hanoch Yassu, an Israel Prison Service officer, was arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife, 37-year-old Sarah Yassu, in Beersheba on Thursday morning after police discovered the victim had been beheaded.

Sarah was found in her apartment; her husband called the police to report her death.

Hanoch initially reported that he and his wife had tried to commit suicide. However, emergency services and police who arrived at the scene found that the woman showed signs of having undergone a violent attack.

Hanoch, who attempted to flee the scene, was arrested and detained for questioning. He later confessed to murdering his wife and led the police to the site where he buried her head. He told the investigators he suspected his wife was unfaithful.

Three children, ages 4, 6, and 10, who were apparently in the apartment at the time of the murder, were unharmed. Investigators suspect the father locked the children in a bedroom before killing his wife.

The killing was the second of the night; a man was shot and killed in Rishon Lezion Wednesday night.