A 51 year old Orthodox Jewish father and grandfather from Brooklyn was found murdered and dismembered in Bogota, Columbia in what authorities are investigating as a possible targeted crime.

Nachum Israel Eber, a member of the Boro Park Belz Hasidic community, was discovered inside a bloodstained wardrobe that had been abandoned on a street in the Colombian capital.

Friends say Eber had traveled to South America in search of a new marriage partner after getting divorced five or six years ago. He is survived by four children and two grandchildren.

According to Yosef Matheron, a local acquaintance who assisted Eber with translation, the victim had previously worked with matchmakers in New York and Ukraine before focusing his search in Colombia. He was also drawn there due to ties within his religious community, including a rabbi known for helping descendants of Spanish Inquisition victims reconnect with Judaism.

Eber met a young woman in Barranquilla, believing she was around 20 years old. The two began a relationship and were described as modest and religious, often going on simple outings together.

“They were a very wholesome couple,” Matheron said. “He was a religious man who stayed away from alcohol and drugs.”

The pair married in Barranquilla, followed by a celebratory meal in Bogota. However, the marriage quickly fell apart after it was revealed the woman was 18 and felt unready for such a commitment. The separation in January left Eber deeply shaken.

Despite being urged to return home, Eber remained in Colombia. Friends noted that his visible religious attire and habit of speaking multiple languages in public may have drawn attention.

Authorities are examining whether he may have been the victim of a “paseo millonario” robbery, a scheme in which criminals identify and track potential targets.

Matheron ultimately distanced himself after experiencing repeated security incidents while traveling with Eber, including thefts in multiple locations.

Eber’s friends described him as a devoted father and grandfather. During the COVID pandemic, he spent 100 consecutive days in Cleveland caring for his ailing father.

The investigation into the killing is ongoing.