Isla Bell, a 19-year-old from Melbourne, seemed to have found happiness in a relationship just days before her tragic death.

Before she was allegedly murdered by a man more than twice her age, she shared a message with a friend, expressing excitement about her new companion.

According to Daily Mail Australia, just hours before her death, Isla sent a Snapchat on October 7, telling her friend she had “found the best sugar daddy.”

This text was sent shortly after Isla was last seen leaving her home on October 4 in Brunswick, Melbourne.

Unfortunately, Isla’s joy was short-lived.

Her remains were discovered weeks later on November 19 at a Dandenong tip, but authorities have not yet officially identified her.

On November 19, 53-year-old Marat Ganiev of St Kilda was charged with her murder, and 57-year-old Eyal Yaffe from Hampton was charged with assisting an offender in the crime.

The Final Days of Isla Bell

Court documents reveal the horrifying details of Isla’s final days.

She had told her friend that her new “sugar daddy” had showered her with gifts and had even “saved her from sex traffickers.”

Just two days before her disappearance, Isla had moved in with Ganiev, a day after her mother reported her missing.

Authorities allege Ganiev murdered Isla around midnight on October 7, though the reasons for the crime remain unclear.

CCTV footage from outside Ganiev’s apartment in St Kilda East appears to show him attacking Isla.

Surveillance shows Isla entering his apartment on October 5 at 9:27 PM, but police believe she never left.

In the chilling footage, police allege Isla’s head was seen “whipping around” as Ganiev struck her.

She collapsed, and Ganiev allegedly continued to hit her while she was on the ground. Police also claim Isla remained alive until around 2:00 AM on October 7, when she vanished from view.

After her death, Ganiev reportedly cleaned his apartment, and two days later, Yaffe arrived with a black fridge to replace an old one, which the men allegedly used to hide Isla’s body.

The Disposal of Isla’s Body

The men allegedly transported Isla’s body in the fridge across various locations.

On October 17, they discarded the fridge in a Caulfield South driveway, wrapping it in plastic and tape.

Two days later, police tried contacting Ganiev, but he moved the fridge to a new location in Hampton.

Neighbors reported that the fridge emitted a foul smell, and flies gathered around it.

The fridge was eventually moved to Bentleigh East, where it remained for several days.

During this time, Yaffe allegedly disposed of Isla’s bag on October 28.

On October 30, the fridge was moved again, this time to Mulgrave, where it was hidden in a van before ending up at a recycling facility in Clayton on November 18.

When the fridge was opened, the person who discovered it mistakenly believed the body inside was a dead animal.

The bag containing Isla’s remains was placed in a residential bin, and her body was eventually recovered from the Dandenong tip.

Arrests and Legal Proceedings

Yaffe was arrested after police found meth and $6,000 in cash on him, along with a ticket to Bulgaria, where authorities believe he planned to flee.

Initially, Yaffe denied any involvement in the disposal of Isla’s body but later confessed, though he claimed not to know how she died.

Yaffe appeared in court shortly after Ganiev, who is also facing charges related to the murder.

In court, Yaffe was seen smiling and communicating with family members, while his lawyer, Ian Hill, prepares to argue for his release on bail.

Meanwhile, Ganiev appeared frail and in need of medication.

His lawyer told the court that Ganiev required methadone for his addiction and had not received his dose for two days.

As the investigation continues, Isla’s mother, Justine Spokes, issued a heart-wrenching statement, expressing her sorrow over her daughter’s death.

She described Isla as “the gentlest soul” and shared her heartbreak over the loss of a future reunion.

In addition to Ganiev and Yaffe, a 63-year-old man from Mulgrave was arrested in connection with the case, but he has since been released pending further investigation.

The Missing Persons Squad is continuing to lead the investigation, hoping to uncover more details about Isla’s final days and the events that led to her tragic death.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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