27.04.2026 12:22
The case of Hamdi Karakuş, who has been missing in Eskişehir since 2006, was taken up by JASAT as a murder investigation after reopening the inquiry. Following DNA findings, 12 people were detained, and the investigation was deepened as a result of three years of work.
The Jandarma Detective Team (JASAT) affiliated with the Eskişehir Provincial Gendarmerie Command found the trace of a 42-year-old person who disappeared and had not been heard from for 20 years in the DNA on a rifle stock. Following the match of the DNA taken from the stock of a rifle believed to have been used in the incident with the missing person, an in-depth investigation resulted in the detention of 12 suspects.
ATTACKED TWICE AND SURVIVED According to the information obtained, on July 17, 2005, 41-year-old Hamdi Karakuş was chased by individuals allegedly his adversaries in the Çardaközü neighborhood of Günyüzü district, was beaten, and then lost vision in one eye after a thrown stone. Subsequently, according to claims, the same individuals introduced themselves as gendarmes, and on August 23, 2005, at 01:00 at night, they took Hamdi Karakuş, who was returning home from the coffeehouse in the Çardaközü neighborhood, after tying his hands, feet, and eyes, and brought him to Mamak district of Ankara. Karakuş, who was beaten there, returned to his village on his own.
TWO DIFFERENT PHOTOS OF HAMDİ KARAKUŞ DISAPPEARED 20 YEARS AGO, NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN Later, on April 1, 2006, at night, 42-year-old Hamdi Karakuş, who disappeared, was abducted next to the neighborhood mosque according to witnesses' statements. After that date, his relatives never heard from Karakuş again.
DNA FOUND ON THE RIFLE STOCK The file was reopened by the Jandarma Detective Team (JASAT) affiliated with the Eskişehir Provincial Gendarmerie Command to investigate Karakuş's fate. As a result of the extensive investigation launched, JASAT teams started from the DNA taken from broken plastic on the stock of a rifle determined to have been used in the incident and the subsequent kidnapping. The DNA matched Hamdi Karakuş. Deepening their work on the 20-year-old missing person case, JASAT teams detained 12 suspects. While the body of the missing Hamdi Karakuş has not yet been found, it was learned that the file was allowed to be opened by Sivrihisar Chief Public Prosecutor Köksal Yurduseven.
"WE WANT HIM TO HAVE A GRAVE" Hamdi Karakuş's sister Semra Dönmez (59) stated the following about what her brother went through:
"My brother was kidnapped and beaten in 2005. Then he was thrown under a bridge in Ankara Mamak. He escaped from there on his own and came to the village. These people kidnapped my brother again on April 1, 2006, and after that, we have not heard from him. He had another argument with them in the village, so we heard that he was kidnapped. We want him to have a grave now. Our elderly mother at home is 90 years old, she prays every day, cries, saying 'My son has no grave.' Hopefully, the detained people will be punished. We really want the incident to come to light, we want him to have a grave. Yes, they introduced themselves as gendarmes. Saying 'We are the gendarmerie,' 5-6 people came, tied his hands and feet, put a bag over his head, and took him away. We thank the Chief Public Prosecutor and JASAT very much, they struggled for 3 years, and we have reached this point."
"90-YEAR-OLD MOTHER WANTS THE GRAVE OF HER MISSING CHILD" Plaintiff's lawyer İsmail Doğancan Çıra said on the subject,, "My client's brother Hamdi Karakuş has been missing for 20 years, and he has not been heard from. Regarding this, my client has made many attempts over 20 years to find her brother, applied to many authorities, but the investigations were closed with non-prosecution. For about 2 years, JASAT teams conducted work under the instruction of our Chief Public Prosecutor. In 2006, following a fight with hostile individuals, a rifle stock was found. This rifle stock was taken into judicial custody by the JASAT team at that time. The DNA on the rifle stock was determined to belong to my client's brother. We will continue our legitimate legal struggle on behalf of our clients. We demand the punishment of the perpetrators. We trust the Turkish judiciary, the decision will be with the esteemed Turkish judiciary. My client's mother is 90 years old and wants the grave of her child who has been missing for 20 years. 12 people are in custody. We received news that they will be referred to the courthouse next Thursday. There is confidentiality in the file, that is all we know. We trust the Turkish judiciary," he said. - ESKİŞEHİR