20.11.2025 00:16
A horrifying detail has emerged in the investigation into the death of the Böcek family, who lost their lives during their holiday in Istanbul. The prosecutor's office found in the camera footage that after the pest control treatment, the family was locked in their room, and that the father, Servet Böcek, attempted to break down the door but was unsuccessful, until a hotel employee arrived and opened the door.
On November 9, Kadir Muhammet Böcek (6) and Masal Böcek (3), who came to Istanbul Fatih from Germany for a holiday and were taken to the hospital from the hotel they were staying at, along with their mother Çiğdem Böcek (27) and father Servet Böcek (38), had 7 suspects detained at the Directorate of Security's Homicide Bureau as part of the investigation into their deaths, and they were sent to the courthouse today.
NUMBER OF DETAINEES IN THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE BOCEK FAMILY'S DEATH RISES TO 8 After the prosecutor's statements, hotel owner H.O., hotel employees M.M.U.D.C., R.B., and the owners of the pest control company Z.K., S.K., and D.C. were arrested for "causing death and injury by negligence," while the simit seller M.K. was referred to the Peace Criminal Court with a request for judicial control. The court placed H.O. under house arrest, imposed a travel ban on hotel employee R.B., and detained the other hotel employees M.M.U.D.C., and the owners of the pest control company Z.K., S.K., and D.C. for "causing death and injury by negligence." Simit seller M.K. was released under judicial control. Previously, a mussel seller, kokoreç seller, Turkish delight seller, and café owner had also been arrested in connection with the incident.
PEST CONTROL COMPANY OPERATING WITHOUT PERMISSION Investigations revealed that room 202 of the hotel where the incident occurred was treated by a pest control company named DSS on November 11. In a letter sent to the chief prosecutor's office by the Provincial Health Directorate, it was stated that the company named DSS was operating without permission and that the suspect D.C., who performed the pest control, did not have any certification records to carry out the pest control process. It was learned that the pest control was conducted by D.C. under the responsibility of S.K., and that the suspect Z.K. was the owner of the pest control company.
The prosecutor assessed that "D.C., S.K., and Z.K., who were responsible for the pest control, acted contrary to their duty of care and diligence." It was determined that the owner of the Harbour Suites Old City hotel was H.O., and that R.B. and M.M.U.D.C. worked part-time at the hotel when needed. It was established that the hotel owner acted contrary to his duty of care and diligence by having pest control done by the unauthorized and unregistered company DSS.
According to the referral letter, the receptionist M.M.U.D.C. stated in his initial statement that he was disturbed by the smell coming from the pest control in room 101; however, it was noted that he did not mention this smell in his statement taken as a suspect. Additionally, it was understood that in his statement taken by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, he claimed that he locked the hotel door and went outside to eat, and when he returned, he found people in the hotel who had been poisoned in a fainted state.
FAMILY TRAPPED IN THE ROOM AFTER PEST CONTROL In the existing camera footage in the file, it was determined that the deceased Servet Böcek could not go outside due to the door being locked, that he tried to break the door, and that citizens waiting there helped to break the door, during which the suspect M.M.U.D.C. arrived at the scene and opened the door. In this context, it was assessed that the suspect acted contrary to his duty of care and diligence.
In his statement taken as an informant, M.M.U.D.C. said he went outside due to the disturbing smell coming from the room because of the pest control, while R.B.'s statements about going outside due to the smell of the pesticide were found to be inconsistent with the course of events. In this context, it was determined that R.B. also acted contrary to his duty of care and diligence by not conducting the necessary inspections as a receptionist.
Additionally, the prosecutor's office determined that M.T., F.R., and A.H., who were also staying at the same hotel, were taken to the hospital on November 15 with suspected poisoning and were discharged from the hospital after treatment.
FOOTAGE OF THE FAMILY GOING TO THE HOSPITAL BY TAXI While the investigation continues, the last footage of the Böcek family as they went to the hospital by taxi has also emerged. In the footage, it can be seen that the Böcek family was panicking while hailing a taxi, with father Servet Böcek sitting in the front seat, and mother Çiğdem, along with their children 6-year-old Kadir Muhammet and 3-year-old Masal Böcek, sitting in the back seat, followed by the mother and children fainting in the back seat.
According to statements, the Böcek family went to Bezmialem Hospital in a semi-conscious state on the morning of November 12, complaining of nausea. At the hospital, Servet and Çiğdem Böcek were given serum, and medications for stomach protection and pain relief were prescribed. The children, who vomited from time to time, were transferred to Çapa Hospital because they were reportedly not treated at Bezmialem Hospital. Here, the children were prescribed probiotics and discharged without any further treatment, returning to the hotel. On the same day, the family, who had not eaten anything due to stomach discomfort, wanted to go to the hospital by ambulance around 01:00 on November 13 because they were feeling unwell again. The family, who were sent back to the hotel and remained locked in, continued to inhale poison for hours, and after a critical loss of time, they were taken to the hospital by ambulance. However, first the children, then the mother, and finally the father lost their lives.