Actress Ece İrtem's Death Under Scrutiny Over Suspected Monkey Bite

A suspicion of a monkey bite being linked to the death of actress Ece İrtem has emerged, prompting her lawyer to file a petition with the prosecutor's office. İrtem, known for her role as 'Işıl' in the series "Kızılcık Şerbeti," passed away at her Istanbul home on June 15. She was 35 years old.

Reports indicate that İrtem traveled to Thailand the week before her death. During this trip, she was reportedly bitten by a monkey. Following this information, her lawyer, Uğur Gökkoyun, submitted a petition to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, requesting that the monkey bite be investigated as a potential cause of death.

According to journalist Birsen Altuntaş, the lawyer's petition highlighted the discovery of three scars on İrtem's left arm. Family members stated that these were from a monkey bite sustained during her Thailand visit. The petition also noted that experts have advised that monkey bites can have fatal consequences, including sepsis (blood poisoning).

"Upon detecting three scars on my client Ece İrtem's left arm on 15.6.2026, when her family members were spoken to, they stated that she was bitten by a monkey during her trip to Thailand. After consulting with experts on this matter, it was learned that monkey bites can have fatal outcomes, including sepsis (blood poisoning). A petition was filed with the prosecutor's office today requesting that this issue also be evaluated during the autopsy," stated lawyer Uğur Gökkoyun.

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Upon detecting three scars on my client Ece İrtem's left arm on 15.6.2026, when her family members were spoken to, they stated that she was bitten by a monkey during her trip to Thailand. After consulting with experts on this matter, it was learned that monkey bites can have fatal outcomes, including sepsis (blood poisoning). A petition was filed with the prosecutor's office today requesting that this issue also be evaluated during the autopsy.