39-year-old cold case solved: The secret behind 8 murders in 7 separate incidents uncovered

Minister Akın Gürlek announced in a statement on his social media account that 8 more murders in 7 separate cold cases have been solved. Gürlek stated that the oldest of these files dates back approximately 39 years, while the most recent is 3 years old.

Gürlek stated that as a result of the work carried out by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices and law enforcement units under the coordination of the Department for Investigation of Unsolved Crimes, cases involving 65 victims and 7 injured individuals have been resolved in 58 files to date.

SOLVED CASES

• - Artvin / Şavşat: In the case of Nigar Bilgin, who had not been heard from since her marriage in 1987, bone remains were found during an excavation conducted after new testimonies and site identification procedures. One of the suspects, Z.B., was arrested, and house arrest was ordered for M.B.
• - Yozgat / Şefaatli: In the case of Hamza Gedik, who was murdered on July 8, 2005, at the TMO facility where he worked, old reports, re-taken testimonies, and evidence were evaluated together. 6 suspects were apprehended in operations in Kırşehir and Istanbul.
• - Diyarbakır / Sur: In the case of Erhan Kurt, who was strangled to death in the Hevsel Gardens on September 21, 2007, new witness statements, HTS and base station records, and Forensic Medicine evaluations were re-examined. 6 suspects were apprehended in simultaneous operations held in Diyarbakır and Batman.
• - Eskişehir / Seyitgazi: In the case of 2.5-year-old Yakup Bozkurt, who went missing on May 8, 2012, and whose lifeless body was later found, 6 suspects were detained as a result of technical work and new testimonies. The father, A.B., one of the suspects, was arrested.
• - Trabzon: In the case of Köksal Kol and Mehmet Kaplan, who went missing on June 26, 2014, the previous decision of non-prosecution was lifted following new witness statements. E.A. and A.B. were arrested.
• - Kilis / Acar Village: In the case of Khaled Tayson, who was found dead in an irrigation well on July 15, 2014, the decision of non-prosecution was lifted after a new Forensic Medicine examination, witness statements, and base station analyses. 3 suspects were apprehended within the scope of the investigation.
• - Kayseri: In the case of Fehmi Lup, an individual with 84 percent disability who was found dead in the Kayseri Asri Cemetery on October 9, 2023, camera footage, base station data, and witness statements were re-evaluated. M.C.D., who was determined to have a connection to the incident, was arrested.

Stating that cold cases will continue to be followed up with new evidence, developing technology, and the opportunities provided by specialized units, Gürlek said, "Whether 3 years have passed or 39 years, we will not give up on pursuing the truth and working for the manifestation of justice."

News Source: 12punto