Zeynep Yıldırım murder: Six suspects sent to court

Six suspects, including brothers Fethi D. and Yaşar D., have been sent to court in connection with the killing of 17-year-old Zeynep Yıldırım, who had been missing for about four years.

The investigation began after police from the Istanbul Public Security Branch’s wanted persons unit examined Yıldırım’s phone records. They determined that she had last spoken with a person identified as F.D. and that the final signal from her phone came from F.D.’s home in Esenyurt.

Based on the information gathered, investigators concluded that Yıldırım was likely killed between October 4 and October 10, 2022. Police carried out simultaneous raids on five addresses in Istanbul and Sinop on September 1, detaining six people believed to be connected to the case.

During questioning, Fethi D. allegedly said he and Yıldırım went to the house before his brother Yaşar D. arrived. He claimed Yaşar D. strangled her while she was sitting on a sofa. Fethi D. then allegedly said he and his brother removed her through a window and buried her in a coal shed.

Yaşar D. denied committing the murder and rejected the allegations. After questioning at the Public Security Branch, all six suspects, including the two brothers, were referred to the courthouse.