Fire case in Mersin turned into murder

Suspicion of murder arose in the case of Durmuş and Elif Bütüner, who died in the fire that broke out in Erdemli on March 1, 2024. 46-year-old C.Ö. was arrested.

Scraper SystemJune 04, 2026, 11:43 AM

After a meticulous investigation conducted by JASAT teams under the instruction of the Erdemli Chief Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the death of the Bütüner couple, who were thought to have died in a fire that broke out in their home 27 months ago in Mersin, suspicion of murder emerged, and the suspect, who was considered to have committed the incident and was caught, was arrested. The incident occurred on March 1, 2024, at the home of Durmuş (54) and Elif Bütüner (49) in Germataş Street, Arslanlı Neighborhood, Erdemli district. Upon notification of the fire at the house, fire brigade, gendarmerie, and health teams were dispatched to the scene. While extinguishing the fire, the teams determined that the Bütüner couple inside the house had died. After the autopsy performed at the Mersin Forensic Medicine Institution, the couple's bodies were buried in Türbe Cemetery. After retiring, the Bütüner couple settled in their home in Arslanlı Neighborhood, located 25 kilometers from the district center known as a plateau. Under the coordination of the Mersin and Erdemli Chief Public Prosecutor's Offices, the Provincial Gendarmerie Command's Gendarmerie Crime Investigation Team (JASAT) started a meticulous investigation regarding the couple's death. EXPERT SAID ARSON After the forensic report, which evaluated that the bodies were burned in the fire after the victims died, the prosecutor's office assigned a team of expert witnesses specialized in the field to the house. The expert witness, who is specialized, reported that the fire was started from inside by human hand (arson), and the 46-year-old C.Ö., whose identity was determined, was pursued. As a result of the meticulous work of the prosecutor's office and JASAT teams, it was determined from base records that the suspect C.Ö. was at the scene until 22:30 when the fire broke out, and the next day he was found in the area of jewelers in Mersin. Subsequently, the suspect C.Ö., who was taken into custody last month and found with an unlicensed pistol, stated that he was at the Bütüner couple's house, whom he called 'my friend,' until 21:30 on the day of the incident and claimed that the incident happened 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 planned intentional killing. Among the information obtained, it was noted that although the murder suspect was at the house on the night of the incident, he claimed he did not participate by saying, "I don't like corpses." LET THEM RECEIVE THE HARDEST PENALTY İlhan Günay, whose sister and brother-in-law died in the incident, provided information about the process. Günay said, "The mystery behind the death of my sister Elif and brother-in-law Durmuş Bütüner, whom we lost as a result of a fire that broke out or was set in their home in Arslanlı Neighborhood 27 months ago, has begun to be unveiled. From the first day, both families believed that this incident was not an accident. We shared all our information with law enforcement. Statements of necessary persons were taken, and we waited patiently for 27 months. At the end of 27 months, as a result of investigations, examinations, and follow-ups, a person was caught, arrested, and imprisoned. After this process, our faith in Turkish justice and laws is infinite. We thank especially the Erdemli Chief Public Prosecutor, the case prosecutor, our law enforcement officers, and JASAT teams. Throughout the court process, our entire family has infinite faith that the relevant person will receive the heaviest penalty," he said. Defendant blamed his wife this time! New defense in the murder solved after 19 years Current Defendant blamed his wife this time! New defense in the murder solved after 19 years In Denizli, a 10-year-old mystery: Confessed to the murder, the body is being searched Agenda In Denizli, a 10-year-old mystery: Confessed to the murder, the body is being searched New development in the Hande Çinkitaş murder! Local New development in the Hande Çinkitaş murder! Fugitive suspect caught red-handed in the Dorukhan Büyükışık murder! He was on the run for eight years, will be held accountable! Agenda Fugitive suspect caught red-handed in the Dorukhan Büyükışık murder! He was on the run for eight years, will be held accountable! Wanted for 10 years for murder... Caught on 'face recognition' camera! Local Wanted for 10 years for murder... Caught on 'face recognition' camera! The wreath he sent before killing his wife confirmed the murder Local The wreath he sent before killing his wife confirmed the murder.

Fire case in Mersin turned into murder

Suspicion of murder arose in the case of Durmuş and Elif Bütüner, who died in the fire that broke out in Erdemli on March 1, 2024. 46-year-old C.Ö. was arrested.