Man whose body was hidden in Haifa apartment wall is named; autopsy reveals foul play

An autopsy on the body found last week inside the wall of an apartment in Haifa has revealed signs of significant violence that caused his death, Hebrew media reports.

Citing findings of the Institute of Forensic Medicine autopsy, the reports say the body belongs to 61-year-old Vitaly Choklin, a former tenant in the apartment who went missing about 18 months ago.

The chief suspect in the case is reportedly Grigory Ashut, 55, another tenant in the apartment, who died last week from an apparent overdose.

Police suspect a fight broke out between them and that Ashut murdered Choklin, dismembered him, put his body parts in plastic bags and hid them inside the living room wall.

He kept the killing a secret, telling anyone who asked him — including the landlord — that Chorkin had moved to another apartment with friends.

After Ashut’s death last week, the landlord hired a handyman to renovate the apartment. The worker noticed a suspicious concrete bulge in the living room, leading to the discovery of Chorkin’s body parts.