Statement from the Council of Forensic Medicine on Rojin Kabaiş: Cause of death announced! Questions remain

In a statement regarding the death of Rojin Kabaiş, the Forensic Medicine Institute announced that she died due to drowning in water, following the discovery of her body on October 15, 2024, in the Mollakasım area of Lake Van after she had gone missing on September 27, 2024.

However, it reported that no definitive assessment could be made as to whether the death occurred due to suicide, an accident, or external factors.

DNA FINDINGS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ASSESSMENT

Some interesting findings were encountered during the autopsy and biological, toxicological, and histopathological examinations conducted by the Forensic Medicine Institute. In the tests performed, in addition to her own DNA, a male DNA profile was detected in the sternal region and another male DNA profile was detected in the vaginal region of the samples taken from Rojin Kabaiş.

However, it was assessed that these DNA profiles might have emerged as a result of post-mortem environmental contact or contamination. It was stated that this possibility of contamination could have occurred due to the body being dragged in the water, the environment where it was found being exposed to contact, or during transport.

The statement emphasized that no evidence of sexual assault was found. Furthermore, no medical evidence indicating battery, violence, or poisoning was found on the body. In light of these findings, it was assessed that the death occurred around the date she went missing, September 27, 2024, and that the body remained in the water for a period of time.

NO DEFINITIVE CONCLUSION ON THE MANNER OF THE INCIDENT

Although the Forensic Medicine Institute stated that the death was definitively caused by drowning in water, it expressed that no definitive conclusion could be reached regarding how the incident unfolded.

It was stated that due to the 18-day disappearance period and the laboratory examinations conducted, a clear assessment could not be made as to whether the death occurred due to suicide, an accident, or the influence of external factors.

The statement from the Forensic Medicine Institute, while confirming that Rojin Kabaiş's death was definitely due to drowning, noted that questions remain regarding how the event developed and that the investigation is ongoing.