05.01.2026 17:40
The funeral of 33-year-old Elif Kumal, whose lifeless body was found in a lake 8 days after she went missing in the Erdek district of Balıkesir, was buried in Bandırma after the procedures at the Bursa Forensic Medicine Institution. Kumal was laid to rest next to her police officer father, who she lost when she was 2 years old.
Elif Kumal, a 33-year-old woman who went missing after leaving the camping area in Erdek district of Balıkesir on December 27, was found dead yesterday in Yukarıyapıcı Pond. Her funeral was held in Bandırma.
ELIF KUMAL WAS FAREWELLED ON HER FINAL JOURNEY
After arguing with her friend E.G. while camping in Yukarıyapıcı Pond on December 27, Kumal left the area in her own vehicle and was found dead in her car in the pond yesterday. The procedures for Kumal's body at the Bursa Forensic Medicine Institution were completed. Her body, taken by relatives from the Bursa Forensic Medicine Institution, was brought to her family home in the Doğa neighborhood of Bandırma.
SHE WAS BURIED NEXT TO HER FATHER, WHOM SHE LOST AT THE AGE OF 2
Kumal's body was later taken to the neighborhood mosque. The funeral was held after the "permission" was taken and the prayer was performed in the neighborhood cemetery. Elif Kumal was buried next to the grave of her father, police officer Mustafa Kumal, whom she lost when she was 2 years old.
HER MOTHER FOLLOWED THE FUNERAL CEREMONY FROM THE VEHICLE
The funeral ceremony was attended by Balıkesir Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Akın, Bandırma District Governor Engin Aksakal, Erdek District Governor Hasan Göç, Erdek Mayor Burhan Karışık, Kumal's sister-in-law Fatma, and her brother İbrahim Kumal, as well as many citizens. Kumal's mother, Aynur Kumal, who was deeply saddened, followed the funeral ceremony from the vehicle.
"EVERYONE SHOULD FACE THE CONSEQUENCES"
Fatma Kumal, Elif Kumal's sister-in-law, stated that they were deeply saddened in her statements to the press. She explained that she identified Elif before the preliminary autopsy, saying, "I kissed and smelled her when they put her in the morgue, and now I will bury her. What more can I say? Are those responsible happy? Even if my sister drowns, the guilty should be punished. Everyone followed the process. Everyone knows. I think there was negligence. We were a small happy family, we meant no harm to anyone. Now we have brought our sister here, and we will bury her. We are considering filing a complaint. I want everyone who is responsible for the negligence to face the consequences."
WHAT HAPPENED
After Elif Kumal went missing following an argument with her friend E.G. while camping in Yukarıyapıcı Pond on December 27, search efforts were conducted by gendarmerie, fire department, AFAD, and 911 Search and Rescue Association teams in various locations. It was determined that Kumal had lost her life in the vehicle found in Yukarıyapıcı Pond yesterday. The preliminary autopsy report sent to the Bursa Forensic Medicine Institution indicated that she died from "drowning."