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DNA tests confirm identity of 17-year-old girl’s killer, his 2014 suicide

DNA tests have confirmed that the remains of Cem Garipoğlu, convicted of murdering a 17-year-old girl in 2009, match those of his mother and father, ending a longstanding controversy over his suicide in 2014, the private DHA news agency reported on Tuesday.

Garipoğlu, who was serving a 24-year sentence for the murder, reportedly killed himself in İstanbul’s Silivri Prison in 2014, but the family of Münevver Karabulut was never allowed to view his body, fueling suspicion that he may have faked his death. The Karabulut family requested the exhumation of Garipoğlu’s body.

The exhumation was carried out last week in the presence of Rezan Epözdemir, the Karabulut family lawyer. After Garipoğlu’s body was removed from the grave, it was transported to the Council of Forensic Medicine (ATK) for examination.

According to a statement released by the Silivri Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, the analysis of samples from Garipoğlu’s bones, teeth and other remains confirmed a match with his mother, Tülay Makbule Garipoğlu, and his father, Mehmet Nida Garipoğlu, with the DNA profile identical to that of the person who underwent an autopsy following the 2014 prison suicide.

The Justice Ministry also shared the findings with the public, putting an end to years of speculation surrounding the death of Garipoğlu, who reportedly suffocated himself by placing a plastic bag over his head and strangling himself with a clothesline.

Epözdemir told Halk TV on Tuesday that while the DNA results were made public, the investigation into other findings — such as a plastic bag reportedly found during the exhumation — has not yet been disclosed.

“We don’t know if the plastic bag has been examined. We will review the results, and if necessary, we will file an appeal,” the lawyer said.

Epözdemir had previously stated that no shroud was found during the exhumation, adding that only scattered bones and a skull were discovered in the grave, indicating a lack of body integrity.

The murder of Münevver Karabulut in March 2009 shocked the country when her decapitated body was discovered in a trash container in Istanbul. Garipoğlu, her then-boyfriend and the son of a prominent businessman, evaded capture for nearly 200 days before turning himself in. His trial, which ended in 2011, drew widespread attention due to the brutal nature of the crime and allegations that his family used their influence to delay justice.

Garipoğlu’s reported suicide in 2014 added another layer of controversy, with rumors circulating that he had bribed officials and escaped from prison. The Karabulut family has maintained their belief that he may still be alive, despite official reports of his death.

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