Shock and deep sadness have gripped Turkey following a case that was uncovered after days of investigation into the disappearance of a minor. 13-year-old Zehra Üzüm, who had been reported missing in early March, was eventually found dead in her family’s garden, in a case that shocked the local community in Eskişehir. The tragic development brought to light a dark reality, as authorities concluded that behind the minor’s disappearance was her own father, who was actually the one who had reported her missing to police.
Turkey: The disappearance of the 13-year-old that mobilized authorities
13-year-old Zehra Üzüm disappeared on March 2nd from the Aşağıkartal area of Tepebaşı district. The case immediately mobilized local police authorities, who began extensive searches to locate the minor. Special teams from the Minor Protection and Public Order departments participated in the operation, while searches were conducted at various points throughout the city. Authorities, in an effort to locate the 13-year-old as quickly as possible, also sought help from citizens. For this reason, informational messages were sent to mobile phones in the area, calling on anyone with information about Zehra’s disappearance to contact police immediately.
Turkey: The father’s suicide and mounting suspicions
Two days after reporting his daughter’s disappearance, the father, Abdulrazak Üzüm, took his own life. This development caused intense suspicion among authorities, who began examining the girl’s family environment more carefully. Police proceeded to check the man’s phone communications, while simultaneously gathering material from security cameras in the area. The evidence that emerged from the investigation led authorities to focus on the family’s residence.
13 yaşındaki Zehra, 10 gündür kayıp olarak aranıyordu! Korkunç gerçek ortaya çıktı: Babası öldürüp hobi bahçesine gömmüşhttps://t.co/5Drhe1b7Wi pic.twitter.com/Vj6k5s6aLz
— Hürriyet.com.tr (@Hurriyet) March 12, 2026
Turkey: The macabre discovery in the family garden
The searches led to a garden belonging to Abdulrazak Üzüm in the rural Aşağıkartal neighborhood. There, police forces conducted extensive excavations, which led to a shocking discovery. During the searches, the lifeless body of 13-year-old Zehra Üzüm was found buried in the ground. The macabre finding confirmed authorities’ worst suspicions and brought a tragic end to the girl’s disappearance mystery.
Authorities continue investigation
After locating the minor’s body, prosecutors, police officers and gendarmerie officials arrived at the scene to conduct an on-site inspection. Subsequently, Zehra’s body was transferred to the hospital morgue for autopsy and post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Authorities continue investigating the case, while the local community remains shocked by the tragic development that revealed one of the darkest family crimes in recent days in Turkey.
10 gündür aranan 13 yaşındaki Zehra Üzüm ölü bulundu: Cinayeti baba işlemiş #Eskişehir #Cinayet #ZehraÜzüm #Sondakika pic.twitter.com/LB9WerWcio
— Eskişehir ES TV (@eskisehirestv) March 12, 2026