17-Year-Old Girl Buried Alive By 49-Year-Old Lover For Revealing Their Relationship: Police

The body of a 17-year-old girl, who was reported missing in Israel last week, has been found in a shallow grave at a construction site. Police suspect that the teen died of suffocation after she was buried alive by her 49-year-old lover for revealing their relationship.

The girl, identified as Lital Yael Melnik, from Kiryat Motzkin, a city in Israel, was reported missing Friday after she failed to return home from her boarding school in the country's south. On the same day, police acted on a tip-off from a worker at a construction site about two people entering the place and the man later leaving alone.

Investigators searched the worksite Saturday and found the victim's body half-buried in a freshly dug grave. The suspect, whose identity cannot be revealed due to a gag order, was arrested after authorities established his ties to the teen. He was produced in court on charges of murder, reported The Times of Israel.

The suspect reportedly met the victim while he was working as a nurse at a psychiatric hospital where the teen was confined for treatment.

Investigators believe the man murdered the girl Saturday morning after discovering that she disclosed their relationship to a close friend. Based on reports, the teen told other people at the boarding school that she was romantically involved with the suspect.

According to victim's grandmother, she previously sought a restraining order against the suspect to keep him away from her granddaughter.

As the victim's body revealed no signs of struggle, police are now investigating if she was under the influence of any substance while she was buried alive, reported Haaretz. Investigators are also determining if the murder was premeditated.

The victim's body was handed over to the family after an autopsy, and she was buried at a cemetery near her home Monday afternoon.

During the funeral, which was attended by more than 200 people, her grieving sister, Ruth Melnik, said, "We wanted to protect you from the cruelty and evil that exists in this world… I'm sorry we failed."

The suspect faces charges such as murder of a minor, interference with an investigation and violation of a restraining order. Investigators said he has not been cooperating with the probe and has been exercising his right to remain silent.