Three siblings found dead by the sea; elder sister had just been accepted to law school
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Three siblings, Gülşah (24), Muhammet Ali (17), and Belinay Sakar (15), were found dead on the coast of Darıca, Kocaeli.
- Initial autopsy findings suggest drowning as the cause of death, with no signs of assault or injury.
- The eldest sibling, Gülşah, had recently been accepted into law school, while the younger two were still high school students.
An investigation is underway into the deaths of three siblings found lifeless on the coast of Darıca, Kocaeli. Gülşah Sakar (24), Muhammet Ali Sakar (17), and Belinay Sakar (15) were discovered on August 20.
Security camera footage from the scene shows the siblings walking together towards the coast in the early hours of August 20. Gülşah and Belinay were seen walking arm-in-arm, with Muhammet Ali beside them. How they entered the water or ended up in the sea remains a key question for investigators.
Initial autopsy results indicate that the cause of death was drowning. Medical examinations revealed bleeding in the ears, consistent with pressure changes, and traces of blood in the nose of one sibling. There were no signs of physical assault or injuries from weapons found on their bodies.
The siblings' parents are divorced, and the three lived with their mother in Darıca, while their father resides in Kars. A poignant detail emerged after their deaths: Gülşah Sakar, the eldest, had recently been accepted into law school. Muhammet Ali and Belinay were continuing their high school education.
Following the discovery, the family's other sibling, B.S. (21), was initially unreachable, prompting a search. B.S. was later found to be at home. The siblings were laid to rest amidst tears, as the community grapples with the tragic loss.
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.