8-year-old Narin Güran found dead in southeast Turkey after 19-day search

The body of eight-year-old Narin Güran was found in a stream about two kilometers from her village in the Bağlar district of Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey, after she disappeared on August 21 after 19 days of desperate searching.

After Güran, who was attending a Koran course, did not return home, her family searched for her using their own means.

When the search together with the villagers remained unsuccessful, Narin's father, Arif Güran, reported her missing to the gendarmerie at around 8 p.m. that same day.

In response, a comprehensive search operation was launched involving Bağlar Gendarmerie Command, Bağlar Public Security Command, Gendarmerie Special Operations Teams, Gendarmerie Criminal Investigation Teams (JASAT), dog detection teams, underwater search and rescue teams, Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), underwater search teams of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality and municipal rescue teams from surrounding districts.

About 150 vehicles that were passing through the area at the time of the girl's disappearance were investigated. Houses and cars entering the village were also searched. In total, 12,565 vehicles were searched, 130 people were questioned, 32,952 people were checked and seven sniffer dogs were deployed to search an area of ​​over 11,000 hectares.

Latest video footage from the surveillance camera

The last footage of her before her disappearance was captured by the school's security camera. The footage, taken on August 21 at 3:15 p.m., shows her walking with four friends and then splitting up to walk home along a mountain path.

During the search operations, two different children's sandals were found three kilometers from the Güran family's house on August 22 and two kilometers further on August 28. However, based on the family's statements, it was confirmed that both sandals did not belong to the missing girl.

As part of the investigation, Narin's older brother EG, 18, was taken into custody for bite marks on his arm. EG was released because it could not be determined whether the bite marks were from his sister.

Uncle arrested

During the ongoing investigation, Narin's uncle Salim Güran, who is also the village head of Tavşantepe, was arrested. DNA samples from Güran's vehicle matched those found on Narin's clothing. After the gendarmerie's investigation, Salim Güran was brought to court in an armored vehicle. On August 2, he was arrested by the court on charges of “intentional killing” and “deprivation of liberty.”

In addition, under the supervision of the prosecutor, searches were carried out in the village cemetery, especially in recently buried graves, using underground imaging equipment.

No findings were reported. Gendarmerie Search and Rescue (JAK) teams also searched the Eğertutmaz Stream, which is 2 kilometers away from the village.

Remains found

On the 19th day of the search, Narin's lifeless body was found in the Eğertutmaz stream. Access to the village was blocked and Narin's body was taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for an autopsy.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya also issued a statement on social media: “Unfortunately, the lifeless body of our missing girl Narin, who went missing in the Tavşantepe neighborhood of Bağlar district of Diyarbakır, was found by our gendarmerie teams. I pray for Allah's mercy on Narin. May her place be in paradise. Our condolences.”

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