09.04.2026 15:26
It was revealed in an indictment prepared 7 years later that Güneş Yıldıztan, a mother of 4 from Kocaeli, was killed by a "family council decision." DNA testing showed that the father of 3 of the 4 children was not her husband Nihat Yıldıztan, but his brother Saim Yıldıztan, and it was determined that the father of the 4th child was neither Nihat nor Saim. On the other hand, the possibility that the body was burned after the murder is being considered.
Kocaeli Police Department Public Order Branch Homicide Bureau teams launched an investigation on February 8, 2024, following a tip-off that Güneş Yıldıztan, a mother of four, was murdered in 2017. The investigation revealed that Yıldıztan had no official record of any transactions since 2017. The police also determined that no missing person report had been filed regarding Güneş Yıldıztan, whom family members said they had not heard from for a long time.
SHE BECAME A VICTIM OF HONOR KILLING
In this context, over a four-month period, statements were taken from more than 50 people, including Yıldıztan's husband, family, relatives, neighbors, and acquaintances. Following approximately four months of technical and physical surveillance, simultaneous operations were conducted at the addresses of suspects in Kocaeli, Istanbul, and Van. In these operations, 26 suspects were detained. Some of the suspects stated during their interrogations that Güneş Yıldıztan was killed by a 'family council decision.'
11 SUSPECTS WERE ARRESTED
Among the suspects, 11, including Nihat Yıldıztan and family members, were arrested. Seven of the suspects were released during the investigation process, while the detention of Nihat Yıldıztan (42), Saim Yıldıztan (36), Muhsin Yıldıztan (34), and B.Y. (32) continued.
IT IS BEING EVALUATED THAT HER BODY WAS BURNED
On November 19, 2025, an indictment was prepared, and a case was filed against 11 defendants at the Kocaeli 8th High Criminal Court. An aggravated life sentence was requested for the defendants for the crimes of 'intentional killing with honor motive', 'instigation', and 'aiding'. It is being considered that Güneş Yıldıztan, whose body has not been found, was burned after being killed.
"DIVORCED 2 YEARS AFTER SHE WAS KILLED"
The indictment included details related to the incident. According to the indictment, shortly before Güneş Yıldıztan went missing, on December 18, 2017, she reported to the police in Kocaeli Darıca and filed a complaint against her husband Nihat Yıldıztan. Güneş Yıldıztan stated that her husband had extinguished cigarettes on her body and had assaulted her, and she took refuge in a women's shelter. Yıldıztan left the institution on December 25, 2017, saying she reconciled with her husband. According to records, Nihat Yıldıztan continued the divorce case he filed on December 20, 2017, on the grounds of "adultery," and the official divorce occurred on September 29, 2019, when Güneş was no longer alive. It was determined that Güneş did not attend any hearings.
"WE WILL CLEANSE OUR HONOR"
The indictment also included statements from a witness regarding one of the suspects, S.Y., who said, "Güneş trampled our honor, tarnished our dignity, we will cleanse our honor. We will kill Güneş."
THE FATHER OF THE 4 CHILDREN TURNED OUT TO BE ANOTHER
The indictment also revealed that a DNA test was conducted on the four children of the victim, and according to the report, it was found that three of the four children born within the marriage were not fathered by Nihat Yıldıztan, but by his brother Saim Yıldıztan. It was determined that the father of the fourth child was neither Nihat nor Saim.
THE DEFENDANTS DID NOT ACCEPT THE ALLEGATIONS
The first hearing of the case was held on March 27 at the Kocaeli 8th High Criminal Court. The hearing was attended by detained defendants Nihat, Saim, Muhsin, and B.Y. (32), as well as the non-detained defendants O.Y., B.Y., S.Y., F.Y., A.Y., M.Z.Y., and M.Y., along with their lawyers. The defendants, who made their defense during the hearing, denied the charges against them and requested their release.
The court panel unanimously decided to continue the detention of defendants Muhsin and Saim Yıldıztan, while it decided to continue the detention of Nihat Yıldıztan by majority vote. The panel ruled for the release of defendant B.Y. due to the possibility of change in the nature and quality of the crime charged against him, the duration of his detention, and the fact that evidence had been collected, and adjourned the hearing.