Unsolved: The Case of Chaim Weiss' 1986 Murder

The murder of Chaim Weiss, a student at the yeshiva of Long Beach, New York, on November 1, 1986, remains one of New York's most baffling unsolved mysteries. Chaim Weiss was killed in his sleep by a hatchet-like weapon between the hours of 1:20 and 6:00 AM. He was sleeping alone in his third-floor dorm room at 63 East Beech St. in Long Beach, New York. His skull was crushed from the brutal blows. The murder weapon was never found.

Weiss' murder scene presented several peculiarities that led investigators to believe the perpetrator was knowledgeable in Jewish rituals dealing with the deceased. Despite the chilly temperatures, the window was found open, a possible Jewish custom to allow the soul to depart. Additionally, Weiss, who was taking antibiotics for a sore throat, was unlikely to have opened the window himself. The body was discovered on the floor with his feet propped on the bed, indicating that it had been moved post-mortem.

Chaim Weiss Photo by PIX11

In the months leading up to his murder, the yeshiva principal had attempted to arrange meetings with Weiss, but the reasons for these meetings remained undisclosed. This raised suspicions but provided little tangible evidence for the investigation.

The investigation, which involved 25 full-time detectives, initially looked into various suspects, including a janitor and a mentally ill individual, as well as considering the possibility of a Halloween-related crime. However, these leads were ultimately ruled out. A single strand of hair not belonging to Weiss was found near his body, but authorities have yet to run a DNA test on it for fear of damaging the sample.

Chaim Weiss' father, Anton, expressed disappointment with the Nassau police's handling of the case and has called for the appointment of a special prosecutor, though this request was never granted. Despite efforts to reignite interest in the case, including a reopening by the Nassau police in 2013 and an increased reward for information leading to an arrest, the murderer remains at large.

The case of Chaim Weiss' murder has garnered attention from various media outlets, including being featured on Unsolved Mysteries and the true crime podcast Killer Instincts. Despite these efforts, the mystery surrounding his death persists, leaving his family and the community still seeking closure.