22.05.2026 10:41
Fugitive suspect Umut Altaş, wanted via a red notice, made striking statements regarding the Gülistan Doku case. Altaş, who was found living on the streets in New York, claimed that Mustafa Türkay Sonel confessed to the murder by telling him, "She was shouting a lot, so I shot." Altaş stated that after the murder, Sonel told him, "Şükrü handled that business," and said he has two guesses as to where the body was buried.
After 6 years, Umut Altaş, who was taken down from dusty shelves and considered one of the most critical figures in the Gülistan Doku case, which turned from a classic missing person case to a murder basis, and was wanted with a red notice, appeared in New York, USA. Altaş, reported to be living on the streets, made striking allegations regarding the case.
“HE WAS SHOUTING A LOT, SO I PULLED THE TRIGGER”
Altaş, speaking to 24 TV and Akşam Newspaper, claimed that Mustafa Türkay Sonel personally confessed the murder to him. Referring to the meeting he said took place at the governor's residence, Altaş alleged that Sonel told him, “He was shouting a lot, so I pulled the trigger.”
Stating that he could not fully grasp what happened at that time, Altaş said, “Türkay also left me a note regarding this murder. I also touched the murder weapon while in the vehicle. I want this case to be resolved now.”
“ŞÜKRÜ HANDLED THAT JOB”
Umut Altaş also made striking statements about the disposal of the body. Altaş, claiming that Türkay Sonel told him “Şükrü handled that job” after the murder, alleged that the person mentioned was the bodyguard of former Tunceli Governor Tuncay Sonel.
“THE GOVERNOR KISSED MY FOREHEAD, IT COULD BE A THANK YOU”
Altaş, recounting that the former governor kissed him on the forehead during a visit in Istanbul, said, “It could have been a kiss of thanks for staying silent.”
VIADUCT DETAIL DREW ATTENTION
Altaş also touched upon the PTS records in the case file, confirming that he was in the same vehicle as Türkay Sonel on the day of the incident but argued he had no knowledge of the murder at that time.
Altaş said, “After the murder, he picked me up by car. We drove around the Tunceli University area, where there is a bridge and a stream bed. He kept circling around the viaduct. I think he was checking if the police were coming.”
“I HAVE TWO GUESSES ABOUT WHERE THE BODY WAS BURIED”
Altaş stated he did not know exactly where the body was buried but said he was focusing on two different areas. Pointing to the Bayraktepe area and the vicinity of Aktuluk Neighborhood, Altaş suggested the body might have been buried at a point near the crime scene where vehicle access was possible.
STRIKING ALLEGATIONS ABOUT TÜRKAY SONEL
Altaş also claimed that Türkay Sonel had displayed violent behavior in the past. Alleging that Sonel exhibited aggressive attitudes towards people around him, Altaş argued that Sonel showed a gun during an argument with police and then used his influence to get away with the incident.
Altaş said, “Türkay also had relationships with girls under 18; he had the character to commit rape. His tendency for violence was extremely high. He even beat his own sister. He had a girlfriend named Elif, whom he also assaulted.” Altaş added, “One day he argued with the police. He walked up to the officers on duty and showed them a gun. Then he pulled a card out of his pocket and showed it, and the police couldn't do anything. I saw his power for the first time then, at that moment.”
Altaş also stated that he would return to Turkey and turn himself in.