Nephew of Australian professor is arrested over the death of his aunty in Argentina – as haunting image of her shallow grave is revealed
- Nephew of Australian professor arrested after aunt and mother found dead
- Prosecutor Claudia Ross said Gilad Pereg was arrested on homicide charges
- Dr Lily Pereg and sister Pyrhia Sarussi traveled to Argentina to visit Mr Pereg
- They were last heard from on January 11 before their bodies were found on a lot
The nephew of an Australian professor has been arrested after his aunt and mother were found dead in Argentina.
Prosecutor Claudia Ross said Gilad Pereg, 36, had been arrested on homicide charges, ABC reported.
The bodies of microbiology professor Lily Pereg and sister and Israeli citizen Pyrhia Sarusi were found on a lot next to the home of Mr Pereg near the city of Mendoza on Saturday (local time).
Both women had traveled to the country to visit Ms Sarusi's son Mr Pereg, before they were last heard from on January 11.
Prosecutor Claudia Ross said Gilad Pereg, 36 (centre), had been arrested on homicide charges
The bodies of microbiology professor Lily Pereg and sister and Israeli citizen Pyrhia Sarusi were found on a lot next to the home of Mr Pereg near the city of Mendoza on Saturday (local time)
Lily Pereg (left) and Pyrhia Sarusi (right) had traveled to the country to visit Ms Sarusi's son Mr Pereg, before they were last heard from on January 11
The two sisters had been renting an apartment in Mendoza, Ms Sarusi's daughter Vered said in a Facebook post.
Prosecutor Ms Ross said an autopsy would reveal the cause of the two women's death
A GoFundMe page was initially created on January 17 to help find the missing sisters.
'(We are) humbled by the outpouring of support and love, worldwide. Your love carried us and will help us recover from a huge tragedy. There will never be an explanation,' the page read.
Already the crowdfunding campaign has raised more than $7,500, of which the unused funds will be donated to charity.
Dr Pereg was brought up in Israel where she obtained her undergraduate degree, later moving to Australia in the mid 90s.
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She completed a PhD in the Department of Agricultural Science at Sydney University and later moved to the University of New England where she was recently made a professor.
She also chaired the soil, microbiology and biodiversity subdivision of the European Geosciences Union.
Shocked friends and colleagues have taken to a Facebook page for Dr Pereg to pay tribute to their lost loved one.
'She had been a wonderful presence and highly regarded in her field of research,' one person said.
'I am devastated like all of their family and friends. Nothing will bring them back now,' another person said.
A family message thanked Argentinian, Australian and Israeli police for their coordinated response.
'We will bring the sisters home for the last time, and will let you know when and where,' the post read.
Lily Pereg (left) and Pyrhia Sarusi (right) had been renting an apartment in Mendoza, Ms Sarusi's daughter Vered said in a Facebook post
The two sisters were renting an apartment in Mendoza (pictured, Mendoza region), Ms Sarusi's daughter Vered said
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