Suspect's father reportedly arrested over obstructing probe

Man who allegedly stabbed 7-year-old to death reportedly on drugs at time of killing

Court orders Liel Ifergen kept in custody until Sept. 3 over Beit Shemesh stabbing; report says he’d been previously hospitalized at psychiatric hospital, will undergo new evaluation

By Michael Horovitz

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25 August 2026, 2:32 pm

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Michael Horovitz is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel

Liel Ifergen, suspected of murdering a 7-year-old boy and seriously wounding a 4-year-old boy in the city of Beit Shemesh, arrives for a remand hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, August 18, 2026. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

The suspect in the murder of a young boy in Beit Shemesh was under the influence of drugs when he carried out the deadly stabbing last week, according to a report on Tuesday.

Liel Ifergen, 26, had taken a substance when he stabbed to death 7-year-old Hillel Mordechai Dadon and injured his 4-year-old cousin, while their parents were out of the house, according to the Kan public broadcaster.

The report did not specify what drugs Ifergen took.

He is set to be sent to a psychological evaluation as part of the conditions of his arrest, Kan reported.

According to the report, Ifergen was hospitalized at the Eitanim psychiatric hospital several years ago, and he was scheduled for a check-up with his psychiatrist in December. Police said at the time of the murder that the suspect had not been previously known to them.

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday extended Ifergen’s custody by 10 days, police said, meaning he will remain detained until at least September 3.

Meanwhile, Ifergen’s father was arrested several days ago on suspicion of obstructing the investigation into his son, the Ynet news site reported on Tuesday.

He was released to house arrest, the report said.

Police said Friday that Ifergen was a resident of the neighborhood in which the stabbing took place. The Walla news site said after the killing that neighbors reported seeing him cleaning a bloody knife, which was seized by police.

Police and rescue forces at the scene where two children were stabbed by a man in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, August 17, 2026. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

The father of one of the boys reportedly found them in an inflatable pool upon his return home, at around 4:40 p.m.

The pair were rushed to the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem, with the older boy in critical condition and the younger one in serious condition.

A short time later it was announced that the older child had died.

Last week, the victim’s mother Tamar told Kan that Hillel was a “smiley” boy who “knew everything.”

“He is a bookworm; he was into puzzles,” she said.

Times of Israel staff and Noam Lehmann contributed to this report.