Tel Aviv - A 45-year-old Israeli man is suspected of murdering his granddaughter, who in a convoluted family relationship was also his stepdaughter, and dumping her body in a river on Tel Aviv's northern outskirts, police announced Tuesday.

Four-year-old Rose Ron has been missing since May, but police only publicised her disappearance two days ago and a gag order on the exact details of the case was lifted Tuesday morning.

The suspect, Ronny Ron, initially confessed to the murder, and led police to the spot on the Yarkon river where he said dumped the body after placing it in a suitcase, but no trace of the corpse was found. He later recanted his confession. Ronny Ron and Rose's mother, Marie, have both been arrested, and the girl's great-grandmother Viviane has been placed under house arrest.

"The investigation is continuing," police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said.

Rose has been missing since May, but information on her disappearance only reached police a few weeks ago, when her great- grandmother Viviane wrote a letter to the Child Protection Centre.

The disappearance only came to public attention two days ago, when police appealed to the public for information on the missing girl. Although the underlying assumption is that Rose has been murdered, Ronny Ron has given conflicting accounts of her disappearance.

The case has been called one of the most intricate in Israel's history. Rose Ron was born in France, to French-born Marie and Benjamin, an Israeli.

During a visit to Israel, Marie fell in love with Benjamin's father, Ronny, and remained in Israel while Benjamin returned to France, taking Rose with him.

Marie and Ronny married, and in December last year were awarded custody of Rose, who came to live with them. She was however placed in the care of Ronny's mother, Viviane.

Rose has not been seen since May 12, when Ronny came to fetch her from his mother's house. (dpa)