A detective investigating a murder case has made a fresh appeal to locate a suspect believed to have fled to Turkey after brutally killing his romantic rival. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe is urging anyone with relevant information to come forward to help locate Ceyhan Dinler, 38, who fled the country in November 2024 after fatally stabbing Cumali Turhan in Chelmsford, Essex.
The court heard that Mr. Turhan, 45, was fatally stabbed in the neck on November 19, 2024, following torture. Dinler allegedly discovered that Mr. Turhan was in a secret relationship with his girlfriend. The two were seen together in a pub shortly before the gruesome incident where Mr. Turhan was mutilated and murdered.
During the horrific attack, part of the victim’s tongue and genitals were severed and discarded in a bin. Police examinations indicated that the tongue had been forcefully cut while Mr. Turhan was still alive. After a 47-day search, detectives found the victim’s body at a landfill site in Colchester.
Appearing on BBC One’s Crimewatch Live, Detective Chief Inspector Metcalfe from Essex Police appealed to the public for information to seek justice for Cumali and his family. The authorities are actively searching for Dinler to question him about Mr. Turhan’s death and are collaborating with the Crown Prosecution Service to ensure his apprehension.
A man involved in the case was sentenced to seven years in prison for assisting in Mr. Turhan’s presumed murder and hindering the proper burial of his body. The trial revealed an ongoing dispute between Dinler and Mr. Turhan over a mutual love interest. Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Ceyhan Dinler.
The tragic case of Cumali Turhan has deeply affected both his family in Turkey and the UK. Viewers previously watched CCTV footage in a Channel 4 documentary, “Catching a Killer: Buried Truths,” showing Dinler and Mr. Turhan in a pub shortly before the suspected murder. The men were later seen engaging in a heated conversation before leaving together.
Following the incident, it is believed that Dinler enticed Mr. Turhan to a nearby bar, where he was fatally stabbed in the neck after being mutilated. Evidence suggests a bloody fingerprint left by the suspect at the scene. The investigation continues to seek justice for the victim and his family.
