04.06.2026 15:21
In Mersin, a murder suspicion emerged in the deaths of Durmuş and Elif Bütüner, a couple believed to have died in a fire at their home 27 months ago. Following meticulous work by JASAT teams and expert reports, the suspect C.Ö., who was detained, has been arrested on charges of 'premeditated murder'.
Following a meticulous investigation by JASAT teams under the directive of the Erdemli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the death of the Bütüner couple, who were thought to have died in a fire at their home in Mersin 27 months ago, a suspicion of murder emerged, and the suspect, believed to have committed the act, was apprehended and arrested.
THEY LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE FIRE The incident occurred on March 1, 2024, at the home of Durmuş (54) and Elif Bütüner (49) on Germataş Street in the Arslanlı neighborhood of Erdemli district. Upon notification of the fire, fire brigade, gendarmerie, and medical teams were dispatched to the scene. While extinguishing the fire, the teams determined that the Bütüner couple had lost their lives. After the autopsy conducted at the Mersin Forensic Medicine Institute, the couple's bodies were buried in the Türbe Cemetery.
Following the death of the Bütüner couple, who had settled in their home in Arslanlı neighborhood, located 25 kilometers from the district center known as a plateau after retirement, the Mersin and Erdemli Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, in coordination with the Provincial Gendarmerie Command's Gendarmerie Crime Investigation Team (JASAT), initiated a meticulous investigation.
EXPERT SAID "ARSON", BASE STATION REVEALED THE SUSPECT After the forensic report, which assessed that the victims' bodies had burned in the fire after their deaths, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office appointed a team of expert witnesses to the house. Following the expert witness's report that the fire was started intentionally from inside (arson), a hunt began for the identified suspect, 46-year-old C.Ö. As a result of the meticulous work of the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and JASAT teams, it was determined from the suspect C.Ö.'s base station records that he was at the scene until the time of the fire around 22:30 and was in the jewelry district of Mersin the next day. Subsequently, the suspect C.Ö., who was detained last month and found in possession of an unlicensed pistol, allegedly tried to defend himself by claiming he was at the Bütüner couple's home, whom he called his 'friends,' until 21:30 on the day of the incident and that the event occurred after he left.
The suspect, who confessed to being at the house on the night of the fire, was arrested by the court on charges of premeditated willful murder. Among the information obtained, it was noted that the murder suspect, despite being at the house on the night of the incident, allegedly claimed he did not attend the funeral, saying "I don't like funerals."
"OUR FAITH IN JUSTICE IS ENDLESS, WE BELIEVE HE WILL RECEIVE THE HARSHEST PUNISHMENT" İlhan Günay, whose sister and brother-in-law died in the incident, provided information about the process. Günay said, "The veil of mystery behind the death of my sister Elif and my brother-in-law Durmuş Bütüner, whom we lost 27 months ago as a result of a fire that started or was started in their home in Arslanlı neighborhood, has begun to lift. From the very first day, both families believed that this incident was not an accident. We shared all our information with the law enforcement. Statements were taken from necessary individuals, and we remained patient for a full 27 months. At the end of 27 months, following research, investigations, and surveillance, one person was apprehended, arrested, and placed in prison. Our faith in Turkish justice and laws is endless from this point onward. We extend our great thanks to our Erdemli Chief Prosecutor, the case prosecutor, our law enforcement, and our JASAT teams. Throughout the court process, our entire family has endless faith that the person in question will receive the harshest punishment," he said.