The Brooklyn Orthodox man brutally murdered in Colombia was reeling from the tip of his one-month marriage to a teen bride — and was desperately searching for a brand new love when he was killed.
The physique of Nachum Israel Eber was discovered dismembered inside a bloody wardrobe that was dumped on a avenue in Bogota on Sunday.
Yosef Matheron, a Colombian man who befriended Eber and helped translate for him, advised The Publish how Eber had met his 18-year-old spouse earlier than the transient union unraveled in January.
Eber, 51, a member of the Boro Park Belz Hasidic group, went to South America to seek for a bride after divorcing his first spouse 5 – 6 years in the past. They shared 4 children and two grandchildren.
Eber searched far and broad for a brand new bride, working with matchmakers in New York and Ukraine, earlier than setting his sights on Colombia, his finest buddy stated.
The divorcee was drawn to the nation as a result of he knew a rabbi from his group who would journey there and assist descendants of Spanish Inquisition exiles convert to Judaism.
“He talked about that he was exploring the potential for assembly somebody to marry, and finally he made a match,” Matheron stated.
Eber met the a lot youthful lady in Barranquilla and thought she was 20 years previous, the pal stated.
Matheron stated he spent a number of time with the pair, and he would usually accompany them on dates to get ice cream.”They had been a spiritual couple, a really healthful couple,” he stated, “He didn’t drink alcohol, he didn’t use medication, he was a spiritual man.”
The 2 had been married in a ceremony in Barranquilla, and a dinner celebrating the union was held in Bogota, he stated.
However it seems his new in-laws lied about their daughter’s age — she was actually 18, and was getting chilly toes.
“The younger lady finally broke up with him, although principally as a result of she advised him she didn’t really feel prepared — she felt she was too younger and believed she had rushed into taking that step. However it was by no means one thing she was compelled to do,” Matheron stated of the wedding.
He advised Eber, who was depressed after the January break up, to go dwelling to the Large Apple and get well.
However Eber was decided to remain in Colombia till he discovered a spouse.
“It’s very arduous to dwell alone in our group. Everybody lives with their households and has youngsters in the home,” his buddy from Brooklyn stated.
Unhealthy luck appeared to comply with the “high-strung, nervous” Eber, Matheron stated.
“I made a decision to cease touring with Nachum, as I had already encountered a number of safety points. I used to be being robbed incessantly within the locations we stayed, although I couldn’t determine why,” he stated.
Eber could have made himself a goal for a “paseo millionairo” assault — the place robbers stalk a possible sufferer for days — by doing issues foreigners shouldn’t, like strolling round along with his mobile phone in his hand, Matheron theorized.
“I’d inform him: ‘Nachum, this isn’t New York.’ He would begin talking Yiddish, Hebrew, and English proper out within the open. He drew consideration to himself, due to his distinctive apparel and the varied languages he spoke,” he stated.
The homicide sufferer was described by his buddy as a loving father and grandfather who would do something for his household.
“Throughout COVID he traveled to Cleveland and took care of his sick father for 100 days striaght, that’s the form of individual he was,” his buddy stated.
Eber’s Brooklyn buddy spoke to him April 21, the final day he was seen alive, and stated Eber was optimistic.
His physique was discovered Wednesday, and native police are investigating.
“He got here to Colombia to discover a spouse, then, his goals went chilly,” Eber’s Brooklyn buddy stated.
