12.12.2025 16:00
In the Torbalı district of İzmir, Şadi and Hatice Avcı, along with their son Mehmet Avcı, were shot and killed. Initial findings suggest that Mehmet Avcı is believed to have killed his parents and then committed suicide. The time of the incident was determined from a video that a neighbor showed to their baby after hearing the noise. Based on this timeframe, investigators discovered that the family's younger son, Mert Avcı, had killed his family and attempted to place the blame on his older brother.
A brutal incident occurred on October 24 in an apartment in 3663 Sokak, Muratbey Neighborhood, Torbalı district of İzmir. Relatives of Hatice (54) and Şadi (67) Avcı, who lived in Torbalı, and their son Mehmet Avcı (32), reported to the police after they could not reach them.
THE CORPSES OF THE MOTHER, FATHER, AND ELDER SON WERE FOUND When the police teams arrived at the scene following the report and entered the house with a locksmith, they found the mother, father, and their son shot dead in a pool of blood. It was determined that all three had lost their lives.
Initial findings suggested that Mehmet Avcı shot his mother Hatice and father Şadi Avcı with a gun and then committed suicide.
Killed brother Mehmet Avcı (left), suspect Mert Avcı (Left-2), murdered mother Hatice Avcı (Right-2), and murdered father Şadi Avcı (right) SPECIAL TEAM FORMED, DETECTIVES SUSPECTED SOME CIRCUMSTANCES As part of the investigation conducted by the Torbalı Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a special team was formed by the order of the Provincial Police Chief, consisting of personnel from the Homicide Bureau and Crime Analysis Bureau. Homicide Bureau detectives became suspicious of the position of Mehmet Avcı's body and the position of the gun on the ground.
With the support of the Intelligence Branch Directorate, teams from the Homicide Bureau, Crime Analysis Center Bureau, Crime Scene Investigation Branch, İzmir Criminal Regional Directorate, and Torbalı District Police Department worked to clarify the incident.
FINGERPRINTS ON THE GUN WERE WIPED Expert teams scrutinized all communications of the family members. The individuals they were in contact with were evaluated. The situation of the family's younger son was found suspicious. All movements before and after the incident were closely monitored.
Technical work was carried out on the house where the family's younger son Mert Avcı lived with his wife in central İzmir, as well as on other houses he occasionally stayed in central İzmir and all vehicles used by family members to collect evidence. It was also determined that the fingerprints on the gun found at the crime scene had been wiped.
THE YOUNGER SON KILLED THE FAMILY Homicide bureau detectives detailed their investigations by examining nearly 20 License Plate Recognition System (PTS) records and about 60 security camera recordings, totaling over 1200 hours of footage. All evidence collected meticulously was examined by a team formed by İzmir Criminal Regional Directorate under the coordination of the Public Security Department. The police determined that the murders were committed by Mert Avcı (31), the younger son of Şadi and Hatice Avcı, based on camera recordings from the time of the incident, phone signals, and the evidence obtained.
THE VIDEO HE SHOWED TO THE NEIGHBOR'S BABY SOLVED THE MURDERS Additionally, all neighbors living in the apartment where the incident occurred were questioned. The neighbor reported hearing a loud noise and expressed suspicion about it, which led to a focus on this. The time frame in which the sound was heard was determined from the time of the video the neighbor was showing to their baby. Furthermore, when the cameras were examined during this time period, it was established that the suspect Mert Avcı arrived home by car at 12:00 and walked into the building. It was also confirmed by the cameras that the suspect left the house at 14:50.
HE PRODUCED MISLEADING EVIDENCE Moreover, it was determined that Avcı called his relatives on the day of the incident, saying he could not reach his family, and when the bodies were found in the house entered with a locksmith, he acted surprised and saddened. In the examination of digital materials belonging to the suspect, conducted in collaboration with the İzmir Cyber Crime Department, it was found that there were searches related to gunshot sound decibel levels in the call history of the suspect's mobile phone.
It was concluded that the suspect had planned the incident in detail, considering even the sound that might arise while carrying out the act, and attempted to destroy evidence while also giving the impression of suicide, producing misleading evidence.
HE TRIED TO PIN THE CRIME ON HIS ELDER BROTHER In light of all the evidence, it was revealed that the family's younger son Mert Avcı procured cologne, cotton, and gloves before the incident and attempted to stage the murders as if his elder brother had killed their mother and father and then committed suicide. Homicide bureau detectives also became suspicious of the position and arrangement of the room where Mehmet Avcı, who was initially thought to have committed suicide, was found.
It was determined that the suspect went home and first killed his mother, who was alone in one room, then called his father to another room, and finally killed his elder brother in the living room. Subsequently, it was established that the suspect arranged the room where his brother was found to create the impression that his brother had committed the act and then committed suicide.
"I DID NOT COMMIT THE MURDERS, I AM INNOCENT" The police detained Mert Avcı, his wife S. A. (31), and his brother-in-law T. B. (28). After their procedures at the police station, Mert Avcı was arrested while the other two suspects were released. It was revealed that Avcı, who is believed to have killed his mother, father, and brother due to his desire to inherit alone because of financial difficulties, also provided a statement. In his statement, Avcı mentioned that he had debts but had paid them off, saying, "I did not commit the murders, I am innocent."
HE HAD DEBTS, HIS MOTHER SOLD AN APARTMENT On the other hand, the profile of the murder suspect also drew attention. Avcı, who was described by those around him as polite, calm, and intelligent, was found to have bought and sold game characters online and had a significant amount of debt, which led his mother to sell one of her apartments to pay off his debts. It was noted that his mother had four more apartments and owned a considerable amount of land.