Six cold case murders solved in Turkey with new evidence and technology

Turkey's Justice Ministry has achieved a significant breakthrough, announcing the resolution of six cold cases involving murder. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek stated that the ministry, in coordination with all relevant institutions, is committed to solving unsolved crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.

The six resolved cases, which occurred between 2005 and 2016 in Balıkesir, Denizli, Hatay, Istanbul, and Samsun, remained unsolved for many years. Gürlek highlighted that the renewed investigations utilized contemporary technological advancements, including criminal forensics, DNA matching, HTS and base analysis, and the re-evaluation of witness statements.

Specific details emerged regarding the individual cases. In Balıkesir, an investigation into the death of Esra Aşık, who died in a house fire in 2005, was reopened. A suspect previously cleared of charges was arrested following a new operation. In Denizli, two suspects were apprehended and arrested for the 2004 murder of Mehmet Ali Türkmen, based on new witness testimonies and HTS records.

For the case of Selbi Uyğur, who disappeared in Hatay 14 years ago, human remains found during excavation work were confirmed through DNA analysis by the Forensic Medicine Institute to belong to her. Legal proceedings have commenced. In Istanbul, biological evidence from the 2014 murder of Gültekin Yıldırım matched a suspect through DNA comparisons, leading to their arrest and detention, supported by HTS records.

Furthermore, in Istanbul, a suspect confessed to the 2016 murder of Yusuf Sayaner and was arrested for "intentional homicide." Finally, in Samsun, the source of a misleading tip in the 19-year-old case of Ali Sarıoğlu's murder was identified years later. New witness statements and technical analyses led to the apprehension and arrest of four suspects.

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We are working with determination to solve unsolved crimes and bring perpetrators to justice, in full coordination with our Ministry of Interior and in strong synergy with all our relevant institutions, under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.