Decadelong Turkish murder mystery to be solved: Murderer’s grave now open

The over-a-decade-long murder case of Munevver Karabulut, a very high-profile Turkish murder mystery, is moving closer to resolution after the exhumation of Cem Garipoglu’s grave on Oct. 3.

• The two met through a study group while preparing for university entrance exams.
• Munevver came from a middle-class family, while Cem came from a wealthy and influential background.
• Friends and acquaintances described their relationship as troubled, with frequent arguments and controlling behavior from Garipoglu.

The case, which has held the nation’s attention for 15 years, centers around the brutal murder of 17-year-old Munevver Karabulut in 2009. This tragic case has led to numerous questions, allegations and suspicions over the years.

Munevver Karabulut’s brutal murder in 2009, murderer Cem Garipoglu’s escape

On March 3, 2009, the body of Munevver Karabulut was discovered in a garbage container in Istanbul, dismembered and brutally mutilated. Her then-boyfriend, Cem Garipoglu, became the prime suspect after her body was found.

Munevver’s body had been gruesomely dismembered, with her head separated from her body and placed in a guitar case, while the rest of her remains were found in a suitcase. Forensic reports revealed she had suffered 29 stab wounds, 13 of which were to her head, indicating the brutality of the attack.

The murder took place in Garipoglu’s home, where bloodstains and other evidence linked him directly to the crime. After the murder, Garipoglu disposed of her remains in a garbage container near his family’s residence.

Cem Garipoglu fled immediately after the murder, evading authorities for 197 days before eventually surrendering on Sept. 17, 2009, just before his 18th birthday.

• Garipoglu’s violent outburst during their final argument escalated into unimaginable brutality.
• He claimed he “lost control” after Munevver insulted him, though the brutality of the crime, including the dismemberment, suggested a far darker side of his personality.
• Despite his confession, the sheer cruelty of the crime and his attempt to evade authorities for nearly 200 days shocked the nation.

Garipoglu’s surrender just before turning 18 resulted in a lighter sentence under juvenile law. The court sentenced him to 24 years in prison. However, the case continued to spark widespread public outrage, as many believed the sentence did not adequately reflect the brutality of the crime.

Claims of bribery and interference surrounding Garipoglu family

Several allegations have emerged over the years against the Garipoglu family, who have been accused of using their wealth and influence to interfere with the investigation.

• Garipoglu’s family was highly influential, which raised concerns about potential judicial interference.
• Rezan Epozdemir, the lawyer for the Karabulut family, publicly stated that he was offered $3.4 million to withdraw from the case.
• He also revealed that he faced threats during the trial, including messages and warnings to step away from the case.
• According to Epozdemir, important evidence such as security footage from Garipoglu’s home was tampered with, raising suspicions about a cover-up.

Adding to this suspicion, in 2021, a disturbing photo surfaced, showing members of the Garipoglu family sitting on a bloodstained couch that had Munevver’s DNA on it.

• The family had not discarded the couch where the murder took place but had moved it to their new home.
• The photo, where Garipoglu’s family members are smiling, caused further public outrage and reinforced doubts that Cem had indeed taken his own life in prison.

Rumors of Garipoglu’s escape from prison, long-awaited exhumation

Although Garipoglu was sentenced and imprisoned, he was found dead in his cell in Silivri Prison in 2014.

• Authorities ruled his death a suicide, stating that Garipoglu had hanged himself.
• Munevver’s family has long questioned this, suspecting that Garipoglu faked his suicide and fled the country with help from his family.
• Some rumors even suggested that he had escaped to China.

Sureyya Karabulut, Munevver’s father, has repeatedly called for an autopsy and the exhumation of Garipoglu’s body to verify his death. Despite these requests being denied for years, the family persisted in seeking the truth.

Their efforts have succeeded as Garipoglu’s grave was exhumed at Karacaahmet Cemetery in Istanbul on Thursday.

Details regarding Cem Garipoglu’s grave exhumation a decade after his death:

• Forensic teams removed remains from the grave, which will undergo DNA testing to confirm the identity of the body.
• The results are expected to be released within two weeks.
• The exhumation took place under heavy security, but no members of the Garipoglu family were present.

DNA test results may bring closure, finally resolve Turkish murder mystery

Karabulut family lawyer Rezan Epozdemir provided shocking details regarding the exhumation.

• “There were no shrouds or pieces of clothing in the grave, and the bones and skull were scattered. There was no body integrity,” Epozdemir stated, adding that this detail was documented in the report.

• He added, “Since there was no body integrity, it was practically impossible to carry out an identification, and thus the identification process could not be performed. Furthermore, no relatives or neighbors of the Garipoglu family were present for the identification as mandated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Only the defense attorneys were present.”

• “We noted all of this in the report. Bone fragments, especially the smaller ones, were left in the grave, but the larger bones and the skull were placed in a sterile container and sent to the Forensic Medicine Institute. Special attention will be given to examining the teeth,” Epozdemir confirmed.

The DNA analysis following the grave opening may finally answer the lingering questions surrounding Garipoglu’s death. The Karabulut family hopes the results will either confirm his death or prove their suspicions correct – that he may have escaped and faked his suicide.

Lawyer Rezan Epozdemir spoke on behalf of the family, emphasizing that this process is critical for their pursuit of justice. “We have been following this case for nearly 15 years on behalf of the Karabulut family. The decision made by the Public Prosecutor’s Office is very significant and encouraging.”

He added that this was a crucial step toward resolving the long-standing mystery surrounding Cem Garipoglu’s death.