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Last update - 01:21 19/05/2008 Herzliya buries local resident Ran Mesika, murdered in U.S. By Yigal Hai, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Crime, Murder Ran Mesika, murdered in the United States five years ago, was finally laid to rest in his hometown of Herzliya Sunday, a month after his body was found in a Louisiana swamp. After a lengthy identification process, which included DNA testing, the body was confirmed as Mesika's and flown to Israel last Friday. About 1,000 people attended the funeral. During the five years following Mesika's disappearance, his father, Shimon, said he traveled to Louisiana 18 times in an effort to find a clue to where his son's body might be hidden. Advertisement "We've waited for this day," Shimon Mesika said Sunday. "Under the circumstances, I'm happy we've succeeded in bringing him home and paying him the respect he deserves ... I'm happy that I can at least go visit him, and that he'll always be with us." A month ago, an American court convicted hitchhiker Jonathan Lee Vernier of kidnapping and murdering Mesika after the latter gave him a lift. A few hours after his conviction, Vernier finally agreed to reveal where he had disposed of the body. Local policemen and volunteers then began searching a 50-square-meter area of swampy ground, and four days later, found the body. Mesika, then 22 years old, had been working as a traveling jewelry salesman in the U.S. when he gave Vernier the fatal ride. Ten days after he disappeared, Vernier was found with Mesika's car in his possession and arrested. He was captured because Shimon Mesika alerted the police to a suspicious cash withdrawal on his son's credit card, which enabled them to pinpoint the suspect's location. "I devoted five years to searching, and it was a long journey," Shimon Mesika said. "Over the last year, I began to fear I wouldn't find the body. But persistence paid off. Related articles: Police investigating possible murder-suicide near Ben Shemen Court sentences two men to 9 years in prison for robbing elderly woman Criminal activity costs Israel billions every year Bookmark to del.icio.us   Nothing to fear Nancy Pelosi in Israel: I trust all presidential candidates in regard to Israel. Bonfire drama Mount Meron grave of famed rabbi at center of ownership row.   1.   My advice to traveling Israelis in the U.S.A. 07:09  |  Johnny Weintraub 19/05/08   2.   and now...? 13:08  |  ravi 19/05/08   3.   #2 why don`t you focus your energies.... 14:29  |  Sharon 19/05/08   4.   #1 Johnny Weintraub 17:33  |  * BEN JABO 19/05/08

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