Posted on 12/20/2010 4:18:01 PM PST by BlackVeil
The mystery of the stabbing attack near Beit Shemesh continued to swell Monday as members of the missionary organization CMJ, to which murder victim Kristine Luken belonged, expressed their certainty that she had died in a terror attack.
Kay Wilson, Luken's friend, told police after her escape from the attack that she believed it had been nationalistically motivated.
"We told the police that Kay is a serious and honest person who doesn't make up stories," Reverend David Pileggi of CMJ, short for 'The Church's Ministry among Jewish people', told Ynet. He said the organization would hold a memorial ceremony for Luken on Thursday.
Luken, who died at age 46, was born in Texas but recently moved to Nottingham, England, where she worked for the CMJ. She first came to Israel in 2007 as part of a Christian pilgrimage to visit holy sites.
On CMJ's website, Luken described the tour as deepening her understanding of the holy verse as well as her relationship with God.
The visit caused her to become a full-fledged member of the group, and she soon left her Texas home for England and began to tour Israel more frequently. "She would go for work trips and help develop our museums and centers in Jerusalem," Pileggi said.
"She loved Israel, the culture, and especially the history of the Jewish people," he added.
Luken met Kay Wilson last August on the CMJ trip to Poland. "I was their group's guide at the death camps and the Jewish community centers. They immediately connected with each other and identified with the story of the Jewish people, and became best friends. They both had a similar outlook on life and were very popular and funny, it was only natural for them to become friends. They also spoke of taking a trip to Israel together," Pileggi recounted.
But no one in the CMJ had been notified of Luken's visit to Israel apart from Wilson. "I suppose she didn't tell anyone she was coming because she knew that if she did, work would be found for her to do at the offices in Jerusalem," the reverend surmised.
Pileggi's main concern is that Kay's testimony be believed by the authorities investigating the mystery. "The impression I got from the police was that they weren't certain about Kay's story and did not believe her account," he said.
Now the reverend is fielding phone calls from Luken's friends, family members and associates. "Everyone is completely shocked," he said. "No one seems to be able to grasp this disaster."
Sorry to say but
“The impression I got from the police was that they weren’t certain about Kay’s story and did not believe her account,”
Grim. I have my doubts, as well - from the moment I first heard the story. But that does not mean it is not true - it does mean that it will have be carefully investigated by the police.
I have changed my mind several times about what probably happened. It is a tragic case. Prayers for the victim’s family.
I have changed my mind several times about what probably happened.
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What do you suspect happened? I’ve not really followed any of it very much.
David Pileggi is the director of Shoresh Study Tours (Jerusalem, Israel), an organization that is dedicated to teaching Christians about the Jewish context of the Christian faith. Pileggi's articles have appeared in such publications as The Jerusalem Post and Charisma. He and his wife Carol have lived in Israel since 1980. They are the proud parents of Shirah, Tamar and Benjamin.
I feel some doubts about the survivor - if her account is true. It is so strange that one person was savagely knifed, and the other lightly stabbed and able to escape. However, I acknowledge that she may indeed be an innocent victim.
As for the perps - the women were not robbed, and not sexually assaulted, and the body of the dead woman was hidden. Rapists rape, theives steal, and terrorists leave the dead in full view, as part of their message. So what is going on? Were the killers, perhaps, people whom they met by arrangement? Do either of the women owe money, use drugs, etc? Awful questions, but they come up in any crime.
Many thanks for the extra information. It appears to be a highly respectable organisation. But it is notable that their member did not notify them that she was visiting Israel - there could be a good explanation, but it is another one of the slightly odd details of this case.
terrorists leave the dead in full view, as part of their message
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Ah...I would agree with that.
I hope they discover the truth. Thank you for answering.
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