Turkish music producer and former singer Erol Köse died on Monday after falling from the 16th floor of a building in İstanbul, with prosecutors saying that they had opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
The incident took place in the Maslak neighborhood of Sarıyer on the European side of the city. Police and medical teams were sent to the scene after reports that a man was lying motionless outside the building. Paramedics later pronounced Köse dead.
The İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said an investigation had been launched and that details would be clarified after an autopsy and other forensic procedures. The Anadolu news agency also reported that authorities had opened an investigation into Köse’s death.
Turkish media said police questioned a man identified as Köse’s friend, Mevlüt Y., who told officers they had been living together and that Köse had been struggling with psychological problems and a heart condition. He also said Köse had not left home for about three months and was alone in the apartment when he briefly went down to the lobby. When he returned, he found Köse on the ground outside, according to the statement cited by local media.
Officials have not said whether the fall was an accident, suicide or the result of possible third-party involvement. Some Turkish outlets reported that a handwritten note may have been found, but authorities had not publicly confirmed that information as of Monday evening.
Köse, who was 61, was a well-known figure in Turkey’s pop music industry in the 1990s and 2000s. He first became known as a member of the performance group Komedi Dans Üçlüsü before moving into music production.
A graduate of Hacettepe University’s medical faculty, Köse worked as a doctor before shifting to the music business. Through his production company, he helped launch or shape the careers of several Turkish pop singers and became one of Turkey’s best-known producers.