The mother's suspicion revealed the brutality: The young woman has fallen victim to murder.

It has been revealed that 33-year-old Duygu Bölükbaş, who was found dead two years ago in the bathroom hanging from a towel rack in the Bornova district of İzmir, was killed by the man she lived with, and the incident was attempted to be concealed as a suicide.

THEY IMPLEMENTED A DIABOLICAL PLAN, IT WAS RECORDED AS SUICIDE

On November 3, 2022, in a luxury site in the Bornova district of İzmir, Duygu Bölükbaş (33), who worked as a manager in a textile company, was living with her boyfriend E. T. (28). The young woman was found dead two years ago in her bathroom, hanging from a towel rack.

Duygu Bölükbaş's boyfriend E. T. and her aunt S. T. claimed in their initial statements to the police that they found the young woman dead in the bathroom. In his statement, the boyfriend also claimed that Duygu was prone to suicide, that after their argument she went into the bathroom, and when she did not come out, he asked his aunt S. T. to check on her, and then they found Duygu Bölükbaş's lifeless body. The matter was later recorded as "suicide" without much further investigation.

THE FAMILY'S SUSPICION BROKE THE GAME: NO KNOT IN THE TOWEL, DNA FOUND UNDER NAILS

Duygu Bölükbaş's family never believed that their daughter committed suicide. A comprehensive investigation was initiated based on the family's statements and suspicions. The family and their lawyer, by tracking new evidence like detectives, prompted the prosecutor's office to issue a search warrant. During the investigation by the Homicide Bureau of the Public Security Department, it was determined that it was not possible for Duygu Bölükbaş to hang herself with a towel, as there was a bathroom counter approximately 1 meter high adjacent to the wall where the towel rack was located, and there was not enough height for Bölükbaş to hang herself. Additionally, DNA samples belonging to E. T. were found under Duygu Bölükbaş's nails. This was recorded as evidence of a struggle. It was also determined that there was no suitable knot for strangulation in the towel that was claimed to have been used for hanging.

SECRET FOOTAGE EMERGED: THREATENED WITH A KNIFE, TOOK A MOP BUCKET

Moreover, on the night of the incident, it was reflected in the cameras that the young woman and her boyfriend E. T. had an argument in the site, and that her boyfriend threatened her with a knife, causing the young woman to cover her head with her hands in fear. In the incident where not even a trace of blood was found in the bathroom, it was also recorded by the cameras that the suspect E. T. took a mop bucket from downstairs.

In the investigations, it was stated in the indictment that E. T. injured Duygu Bölükbaş on the head with a hard object after their argument, and then strangled her with an object, leading to her death. The murder suspect E. T. was arrested by the Magistrate's Court on March 22, 2024, after the investigations and the preparation of the indictment.

"THE CASE WAS CLOSED WHEN NO SUSPICION ARISES"

The family's lawyer Levent Kahya stated that the family never believed their daughter committed suicide and that they conducted an intense investigation based on this suspicion. Lawyer Kahya said, "The family said that Duygu was definitely not the type of person who could commit suicide, and that she would never behave in such a manner, so I believed the family and we started the investigations. During these investigations, we spoke with dozens of people. We obtained information from the security managers of the site, security personnel, neighbors, and local shopkeepers. In light of this information, when we followed the crime scene investigation and similar works conducted by the homicide bureau, we realized that the situation raised extreme suspicion. We contacted our chief prosecutor about this and made applications. We requested the retrieval of 112 records and the site camera footage. When we conducted time studies regarding these, it became clear that the suspect and his family made false statements. Following this, the prosecutor's office issued a new search warrant. When they went to the house and examined the bathroom, it was understood that the towel rack, from which our daughter was claimed to have hanged herself, was not capable of bearing that weight. It was also determined that the measurements and distances were not sufficient even for hanging. Considering the inconsistencies in the statements and actions aimed at destroying evidence, the prosecutor's office requested DNA analysis. The suspect's DNA was taken. The suspect's DNA was compared with the DNA found under the nails of the victim, Duygu, and the suspect's DNA was found. Along with this, it was revealed that the crime was committed with all scientific data. The teams conducted a very thorough investigation; however, since it was approached with the prejudice that it was a suicide, and no suspicion arose, the case was somewhat closed. Rightfully closed; but we conducted a more in-depth investigation. There were previously sent messages, including threatening messages. We had these in our possession. As justice is delayed, the family's pain increases exponentially. Trust in justice is shaken. We want justice to be served," he said.

THE MOTHER WAS OVERWHELMED WITH TEARS: "I WANT JUSTICE"

Speaking in front of the İzmir Courthouse, mother Nuriye Bölükbaş was overwhelmed with tears and said, "I want justice." Mother Bölükbaş stated: "This struggle was not easy as a mother. I went through very difficult processes; but I believed. I was absolutely sure that my daughter would not do such a thing because I know her very well. Therefore, I did whatever I needed to do. I believe I have received the results of my efforts.

My effort is for justice to be served, so that the perpetrators do not roam freely and bring fire to homes. I am burning, I am not living; my daughter and I have died. I do not want other mothers to die as well. This is Turkey's bleeding wound. Please, may the perpetrators not roam freely and put another mother in the situation I have fallen into. We are not living; raising a child is not easy. I am very tired after two years of struggle. The individual has sent us threatening messages, tried to isolate my daughter, caused rifts within the family, and threatened to kill my daughter. This is already documented in the prosecutor's office, and it is in the messages. Who will pay the price for a 13-year-old child's loss, the price of being without a mother? As a mother, I ask, is it easy to be without a mother? A child has been left motherless. The individual took someone else into their life shortly after my daughter died and chose another victim. If they do not receive their punishment, the same victims will continue to emerge; there will be Duygu, Ayşe, Fatma, and it will never end. For this reason, justice must be served, and they must receive the punishment they deserve. This is my effort. I do not want other mothers to burn as I have. I fear no one. As long as I live, I will never let go of this matter.