Police have spent almost two months investigating the disappearance of a man – here is everything we know so far in a timeline. Officers had initially treated the search as a missing persons – but the discovery of a body has meant detectives are now carrying out a murder investigation.
Cumali Turhan, 46, was reported missing from Chelmsford on November 18. He had been seen at The Globe on Rainsford Road shortly after midnight before evidence suggested he had gone to Barista on Duke Street.
EssexLive has provided you with a timeline of the key events throughout the course of the police’s investigations. Scroll down to the bottom to look at what has happened so far.
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Serious concerns for his welfare were quickly established after they received the missing persons report. The body of a man was found at a landfill site in Essex on January 11 and officers have identified it as that of Cumali.
The search for the missing man has now concluded and his family have been informed of the development. One man has denied charges in connection with the investigation whilst officers continue to appeal for information about a second suspect named as Ceyhan Dinler, 38, from Chelmsford.
Dinler left the country via Stansted Airport on the same day Cumali was last in contact with anyone. Scroll down below to see a timeline of events so far.
Time Line
Chelmsford murder investigation timeline
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November 18, 2024
Essex Police launch an investigation after reports of Cumali Turhan, 45, missing from Chelmsford. Enquiries quickly established serious concerns for his welfare.
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November 19, 2024
Cumali Turhan was last heard from just after midnight on November 19 when he was in The Globe pub on Rainsford Road. Essex Police says on November 22 that information suggests he may have later been in Barista on Duke Street.
A man later to be identified as being a suspect leaves the UK later on November 19.
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November 21, 2024
A man, 44, of no fixed abode, is arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into police custody for questioning. Police are seen carrying out forensic examinations at the Barista and other premises on Duke Street in Chelmsford.
Essex Police make their first public statement about the investigation.
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November 23, 2024 (11:40am)
A man is charged in connection with the disappearance of Cumali. Ciprian Illie, 44, was charged with assisting an offender (murder) and preventing lawful and decent burial of a dead body.
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November 23, 2024 (4pm)
Ciprian Illie appears in court charged with two offences. He was remanded into custody to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on December 23.
Essex Police confirm a second man has been identified as a suspect and work is ongoing to locate him. This man left the country later that day.
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November 27, 2024
Police confirm search at a refuse transfer site in the Chelmsford area and a second search location near to Colchester. Forensics focus on an area of 5,000 square metres.
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December 6, 2024
Police identify Ceyhan Dinler, 38, from Chelmsford, as being wanted in connection with Cumali’s disappearance. Dinler left the country via London Stansted Airport on the same day Cumali was last in contact with anyone (November 19).
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December 19, 2024
A month passes since Cumali Turhan was last seen or heard from.
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December 23, 2024
Ciprian Ilie, 44, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender (murder) and preventing lawful and decent burial of a dead body when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court. He was remanded into custody and a trial date was set for September 2025.
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January 11, 2025
Police confirm officers have found the body of a man at a landfill site in Essex. Officers confirm the identity as that of Cumali Turhan.
The search for the missing man has now concluded and his family have been informed of the development.
The discovery comes after 45 days of searching at the landfill site. Enquiries at the landfill site are expected to continue for several days.
DCI Louise Metcalfe, who leads the investigation, said: “Specialist officers have been working diligently for 45 days at the landfill site in conditions that have called heavily on their resilience. Their hard work has continued unabated even during the extreme weather to support detectives who have worked quickly to progress the extremely challenging investigation.
“Throughout this difficult time, we have been in regular contact with Cumali’s family. They will continue to be supported by specialist officers as it will take some time for them to come to terms with this news.”
Anybody who has information that could help the investigation can report here.