A reward of £10,000 is being offered to assist in locating a suspect believed to have fled to Turkey after brutally murdering his romantic rival. Crimestoppers has announced the cash reward in hopes of capturing Ceyhan Dinler, 38, who fled the UK in November 2024 following the fatal stabbing of Cumali Turhan in Chelmsford, Essex. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe of Essex Police emphasized the importance of finding answers and justice for Cumali’s family.
Cumali Turhan, aged 45, was fatally stabbed in the neck after reportedly being tortured on November 19, 2024. Dinler allegedly discovered that Turhan was romantically involved with his girlfriend, leading to the tragic incident. The victim’s body, with parts of his tongue and genitals mutilated and discarded in a bin, was found by detectives after an extensive 47-day search at a landfill site in Colchester.
In a separate case, Ciprian Ilie, 44, was sentenced to seven years in prison for aiding in Turhan’s murder and improper disposal of the body. The court revealed an underlying conflict between Dinler and Turhan over a mutual romantic interest. Phil Breckton, the eastern regional manager at Crimestoppers, assured complete anonymity for anyone providing information on Dinler’s whereabouts, emphasizing the urgent need for closure and justice for Cumali Turhan’s family.
Recently, a Channel 4 documentary titled “Catching a Killer: Buried Truths” aired CCTV footage showing Turhan and Dinler at a bar shortly before the alleged murder. The men engaged in a tense conversation before leaving together. Subsequent CCTV footage suggested that Dinler lured Turhan to a nearby bar where the fatal stabbing occurred, leaving incriminating evidence behind.
Detective Chief Inspector Metcalfe expressed shock at the brutality of the crime, highlighting the extreme nature of the torture inflicted on the victim. Authorities continue to seek information on Dinler’s whereabouts, with the reward offer set to expire on April 6.