Welfare authorities said warned in 2014 that slain girl, 12, was in danger

An organization that helps asylum seekers in south Tel Aviv says it warned welfare authorities four years ago that a young girl, who was found dead on Tuesday, was in danger.

The victim, Sylvana Tsegai, was said to be the daughter of Eritrean asylum seekers. Hebrew-language media reported that the partner of the teen’s mother was the main suspect, and that a manhunt had been launched to find him. He was identified by police as Eritrean national Tesfebarhan Tesfasion.

“Four  years ago, we sent a report to welfare [authorities] over fears Tsegai was in danger,” the Aid Organization for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel says, according to Hadashot news.

A file photo of Sylvana Tsegai, allegedly murdered on Sunday in Tel Aviv (Courtesy)

An Eritrean asylum seeker, identified only as Johnny, tells the Kan public broadcaster that the girl “lived in fear.”

“He murdered her to hurt her mother,” he says, referring to Tesfasion. “On Saturday, Sylvana called the police after he threatened her mother for three months. The neighbors said that in the past two weeks, the girl didn’t want to come home from school.”