Shocking claims in the disappearance of Ece Gürel! Did someone else leave her coat? What does the message 'My soul was left behind' mean?

Search efforts, which began after the relatives of Ece Gürel (36) reported her missing—after she left her home in Kağıthane's Gültepe neighborhood on Sunday, March 2, saying she was going to the Belgrade Forest—are continuing with the participation of police, AFAD, UMKE, AKUT, and search and rescue teams from numerous district municipalities. Divers from the Istanbul Fire Department's Underwater Search and Rescue (İSAK) team are also conducting dives in the Valide Sultan Reservoir.

HER BELONGINGS WERE FOUND

While teams were continuing their search with infrared drones, some items were detected in the inner parts of the forest. Crime scene investigation teams dispatched to the area subsequently found personal belongings, including a mobile phone, a jacket, and a bag. The items, believed to belong to Gürel, were taken to the police station for examination. Teams were also directed to different points to expand the search area.

THE CARDIGAN DOES NOT BELONG TO THE YOUNG WOMAN

It was claimed that her cardigan was found in an area 14 kilometers away from where Gürel's mobile phone and other personal belongings were discovered. Ece Gürel's husband, Sezer Gürel, stated that the cardigan did not belong to his wife.

MESSAGES REVEALED

It was determined that Gürel had been messaging friends in England via social media and sharing photos from the Belgrade Forest; her final messages have also come to light.

"I SAT DOWN, MY SOUL WAS LEFT BEHIND"

It was determined that Gürel messaged her friend, "It got crowded here, I couldn't find the main spot," and wrote, "I am lost."

It was noted that Gürel, who continued to send photos, wrote, "I sat down, my soul was left behind." Her friend replied, "Good for you. I went to the market too. You're super, honey," but did not see the "I am lost" message, later writing, "I just saw that you said you were lost, isn't your navigation on your phone turned on?"

THERE WERE PROBLEMS AT WORK

Emphasizing that his wife was a graduate of the Faculty of Forestry and knew the Belgrade Forest, Gürel said, "I tried to search for a round before her friends arrived. Searches are being conducted with K9 dogs. During the last snowfall, there was a problem related to her workplace. She was working at a law firm. There was talk of resignation."

SHOCKING CLAIM FROM THE FAMILY

Ece Gürel's husband, Sezer Gürel, who participated in Müge Anlı's TV program, stated that her jacket was found neatly folded among the items. The family, who joined the live broadcast, claimed that the items were found after yesterday's broadcast and expressed their suspicion that someone else had left the jacket there.

The fact that the jacket found in the forest was clean increased suspicions, while Sezer Gürel stated that they had been having problems due to work and that his wife had invited him to the forest, but he did not go.

THE STORY BEHIND "MY SOUL WAS LEFT BEHIND" TURNS OUT TO BE A NATIVE AMERICAN MESSAGE

Stating that underwater search efforts had also begun, Müge Anlı shared the Native American belief behind Ece's final message during the broadcast. Anlı explained that the phrase "My soul was left behind" is a saying used by Native Americans when they are very tired and need to rest. Reading Ece Gürel's final messages on the live broadcast yesterday, Müge Anlı revealed the secret behind that message today. Anlı said, "According to Native American belief, it is thought that when they get very tired and rest, their bodies move too fast and their souls cannot keep up with their bodies. For this reason, they would say 'My soul was left behind' to express the need to rest."

BLOOD STAINS?

It was stated that a structure resembling blood stains was also found in the area.

The reason for searching the pond is that an eyewitness saw a dog enter the pond on the day Ece Gürel went missing. However, it was learned that there is a distance between Ece Gürel's jacket and the lake.

"WE THINK SHE IS ALIVE"

Sarıyer Mayor Mustafa Oktay Aksu made hopeful statements regarding the search efforts, saying, "We currently think she is alive. Some materials we found indicate this. The searches are continuing, we are very hopeful."