Murder of Münevver Karabulut

Münevver Karabulut was born in Istanbul on 7 March 1991, the first child of a family originally from Mengen, Bolu. Her father Süreyya Karabulut worked as a cook and her mother Nagihan Karabulut was a housewife. Karabulut was a senior at Beşiktaş Bingül Erdem High School and was also attending university preparatory classes, where she met Cem Garipoğlu and began a friendship with him.

On the evening of 3 March 2009, Karabulut's dismembered body was found by a garbage collector in a garbage container in Istanbul. Forensic examination determined that she had died from knife injuries to the head, and that her head had subsequently been severed from her body.

The main suspect, Cem Garipoğlu, remained a fugitive for approximately six months, and the authorities' inability to arrest him drew public criticism and prompted protests across Istanbul. A special police team was formed to locate him, and Interpol issued a red notice. The interior minister at the time, Beşir Atalay, ordered the Istanbul Police to make the arrest. Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah was replaced by Hüseyin Çapkın after controversial remarks about the case. During the investigation, an initial autopsy report was found to be inaccurate after DNA samples from other bodies were mixed with the victim's, requiring a second autopsy. Unfounded rumors that Garipoğlu had fled Turkey, including reports of a possible arrest in Armenia, circulated in the press. Police reportedly raided 106 addresses in 16 provinces during the search. Garipoğlu was arrested in Istanbul on 17 September 2009, 197 days after the murder.

A trial began on 26 February 2010, combining charges against Garipoğlu and six others, including his father Nida Garipoğlu (tried for committing the crime alongside Cem), his mother Makbule Garipoğlu (accused of destroying evidence), his uncle Hayyam Garipoğlu (accused of hiding him), and three others accused of helping protect him. Karabulut's mother, father, and brother were complainants in the case and sought ₺2 million in compensation from the Garipoğlu family. In April 2011, the presiding judge withdrew from the case following a recusal motion from the Karabulut family related to a prior case involving Hayyam Garipoğlu.

On 18 November 2011, Cem Garipoğlu was sentenced to 24 years in prison. His mother and uncle each received 3-year sentences, while his father was acquitted. In a separate case concerning the flawed initial autopsy, an autopsy technician was sentenced to 5 months for neglect of duty; two doctors were acquitted. A civil damages case concluded on 8 October 2013, ordering the Garipoğlu family to pay the Karabulut family ₺37,500 in pecuniary damages and ₺1,250,000 in non-pecuniary damages.

On 10 October 2014, Cem Garipoğlu died by suicide in his prison cell at L Type Closed Prison No. 5 in Silivri. His death prompted conspiracy theories, including claims he had faked his death, which intensified after a family Instagram post. In 2024, Garipoğlu's grave was exhumed at the Karabulut family's request, and DNA analysis confirmed the remains were his.