Allegations that Yağmur, found dead in America, was starved and poisoned with drugs

Yağmur Taktaş (28), an Adana-born social media influencer who rose to fame through a television competition, passed away on April 3 in the US after being taken to the hospital when she fell ill.

Taktaş's lifeless body was laid to rest on April 20 at the Kabasakal Cemetery in Adana, where it was brought by air.

Taktaş's family filed a complaint through their lawyers against her boyfriend, A.C.F., a Turkish-origin US citizen and artist, claiming that he caused the death of their daughter, who had previously been beaten and had lost her spleen.

ALLEGATIONS OF BEING DRUGGED AND STARVED

The Taktaş family alleged that Yağmur was introduced to drugs by her boyfriend, was held against her will, beaten, and starved at the place where she was kept. Following these suspicions, the family applied through their lawyers to have the body exhumed for an autopsy in Turkey. With the application accepted, Taktaş's body was exhumed on May 6, 2024, and taken to the Adana Forensic Medicine Institute morgue. Samples taken from the body, which was found to be partially decomposed, were sent to the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute.

ARREST WARRANT ISSUED

Following the Taktaş family's application, the autopsy report prepared at Columbia University in New York stated that different types of drugs were found in the young woman's body, and the autopsy video showed bruises related to physical assault as well as marks consistent with cigarette burns. Upon the request of the Adana Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, an arrest warrant was issued for A.C.F. by the 5th Criminal Judgeship of Peace. It was also noted that the autopsy report from the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute is still pending.

"IT IS CLEAR SHE WAS TORTURED AND STARVED"

Fethi Öksüz, the lawyer for the family, who stated that the autopsy report reaching the prosecutor's office confirms Taktaş was beaten, made statements to reporters. Lawyer Öksüz explained that Yağmur died of poisoning and said the following:

"When we watched the autopsy video of Yağmur, signs of a laceration on her head, bruises on her neck and legs, and marks indicating that cigarettes had been extinguished on her were observed. This supports our allegations and even shows that it went beyond them. The report reflects that there were several different types of drugs and stimulants in Yağmur's body, and that she was poisoned as a result. It has been clearly demonstrated that Yağmur was tortured during this process and that her death occurred due to the administration of drugs after being starved," he said.

"WE WANT THE TRIAL TO TAKE PLACE IN TURKEY"

Discussing the process following the issuance of the arrest warrant, Öksüz stated, "If the individual enters Turkey, he will be arrested and handed over to the relevant judicial authorities. We will follow the process to ensure the extradition of the individual from US authorities or to have his statement taken so that the trial can continue. We are persistent in the extradition request. There was a precedent for this in the recent past. Due to the deep pain Yağmur's passing has caused the family, we want the individual to be tried in Turkey," he expressed.

News Source: İHA