A father was captured conversing with the individual suspected of killing him just before he suffered a gruesome death involving torture and having his tongue removed. Cumali Turhan, aged 45, was observed at a pub in Chelmsford, Essex, in the company of Ceyhan Dinler on November 19, 2024, before they proceeded to another nearby bar. Subsequently, Cumali was brutally attacked, stabbed, and mutilated, following which Dinler fled to Turkey the next day.
The details of the tragic final moments of the father, as well as the subsequent police efforts to locate his body in a large waste site, have been disclosed in a Channel 4 documentary named “Catching a Killer: Buried Truths.” Dinler, the fugitive suspect, allegedly assaulted Cumali at the Barista bar, inflicting fatal injuries, before departing from the UK via Stansted airport.
During the heinous assault, parts of the victim’s tongue and genitals were severed and discarded in a bin. Based on evidence of bruising indicating the tongue was forcibly removed while Cumali was alive, investigators concluded the extent of the brutality inflicted upon him.
Following an extensive search led by Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, Cumali’s remains were eventually located 45 days after the crime at the Enovert landfill site in Stanway, 20 miles away. This recovery marked a significant milestone as it was the first instance of a body being found in a dump through a police operation in the UK. The search involved examining 10 locations and deploying 1,650 officer shifts. Ciprian Ilie, a 44-year-old Romanian national, received a seven-year prison sentence for aiding an offender and obstructing a lawful burial.
According to testimonies presented during the trial, Cumali was reportedly involved with Dinler’s partner, leading to simmering tension between the two men. Surveillance footage captured them engaging in a heated discussion at The Glove pub in Chelmsford after Dinler repeatedly contacted his intended victim. The men were seen leaving together after a discussion that escalated, purportedly leading to Cumali’s fatal encounter at the nearby Barista bar on Duke Street.
The prosecution believes that Dinler, a Tottenham Hotspur supporter and Turkish citizen, fatally stabbed Cumali in the neck post-mutilation. Detective Metcalfe expressed shock at the grim discovery of body parts and the level of violence inflicted on the victim, stating it was unexpected on a regular afternoon.
An additional investigator remarked on the extreme cruelty displayed in the case, emphasizing the torture endured by the victim beyond mere stabbing. Ilie was apprehended at a shelter for the homeless, where he confessed to assisting in cleaning the crime scene. He claimed he was coerced by Dinler, under threat of a knife, to aid in disposing of the body, resulting in Cumali’s unintentional deposit in a landfill.
The mother of Cumali’s child revealed that their relationship ended after the tragic loss of their son at a young age. In his final text message to his ex-partner before his demise, Cumali expressed remorse for his perceived failures within the family.
Essex Police continue their efforts to locate Dinler in connection with the case, collaborating with the Crown Prosecution Service in the pursuit. Detective Metcalfe reiterated the commitment to seeking justice for Cumali and his loved ones, emphasizing the profound loss suffered by his family and the resolve to bring the main suspect to justice.
Sergeant Simon Gray, involved in the search operation, expressed hope that the documentary showcasing the dedicated search efforts would underscore the commitment of all involved in the challenging and emotionally demanding task. The adverse weather conditions and difficult environment did not deter the search team from their mission to locate Cumali and provide closure to his family.
The documentary “Catching a Killer: Buried Truths” will air on Channel 4 on January 6 at 9 pm.