Second suspect 'left the country' - officers investigating disappearance of man from Chelmsford

A first man was charged yesterday.

45-year-old Cumali Turhan
Author: Luke ReeveyPublished 24th Nov 2024

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Cumali Turhan in Chelmsford confirm a second person has been identified as a suspect.

We reported that Cumali was last seen late on Tuesday night (19th November) when he was in the Globe Pub on Rainsford Road.

Yesterday morning (23rd November), 44-year-old Ciprian Ilie appeared in court charged with assisting an offender (murder) and preventing lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

He was remanded into custody to next appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on December 23rd.

Police have confirmed that a second man has been identified as a suspect and work is ongoing to locate him.

This man left the country later on the day Cumali went missing.

Police are working with a number of partners in relation to his location.

'We know he left the country'

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is a complex investigation which we’re progressing at pace and we’re following a number of targeted lines of enquiry.

“One of those lines is the whereabouts of a second man who we’ve now identified as a suspect.

"We know he left the country soon after Cumali was last seen and we’re working with partners on progressing that aspect of the investigation.”

DCI Metcalfe added: “Our specialist search and forensic officers will continue to work day and night in the coming days as we continue to build a picture of the circumstances which led up to Cumali’s disappearance.”

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