Turkey cracks 60 cold-case murders using new forensic tools in 2026

In the first three quarters of 2026, Turkish police and the gendarmerie reported solving 60 murder cases that occurred between 2004 and 2024. The breakdown includes 35 investigations under police jurisdiction and 25 under the gendarmerie, with the oldest case dating back to 2004. Teams revisited archived evidence, integrating modern forensic methods such as DNA matching, surveillance footage analysis, telephone and mobile-base-station records, as well as traffic data and witness statements.

Physical clues like vehicle parts from crime scenes were also traced, and links between separate cases were explored. Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi stressed that the passage of time does not excuse killers and praised the coordinated effort with chief public prosecutors and related institutions. He described the resolution of the 60 cases as a testament to Turkey’s growing forensic capacity and meticulous investigative work.