Investigation into Erol Köse’s Death Concludes
The investigation into the death of producer Erol Köse has been completed, with prosecutors finding no evidence that his death was suspicious or that another person was responsible.
Köse died on March 23 after falling from the 16th floor of the 40-storey residential building where he lived in Istanbul’s Maslak district. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation following the incident.
Prosecutors have now issued a decision that there are no grounds to bring a criminal case. According to the decision, the examination of Köse’s mobile phone produced no findings indicating that his death involved suspicious circumstances. Investigators also found no evidence that another person had acted intentionally, negligently or in a way that could have contributed to his suicide.
A handwritten note was reportedly found during an examination of Köse’s home after his death. The note, said to have been written by the producer, referred to his illness and included the words: “I can’t endure ALS any longer. No one is responsible. Please take good care of my cat.”
The note’s reported contents provide context for the circumstances examined by investigators, but the decision to close the case rested on the evidence gathered during the inquiry. Authorities said they had not established grounds to suspect another person’s involvement.
The conclusion means that prosecutors will not pursue a criminal prosecution based on the available findings. It does not alter the reported circumstances of Köse’s death; rather, it reflects the investigative authorities’ assessment that the evidence did not support a criminal case.
Inquiries into a death may involve reviewing communications, examining the location and collecting statements or other evidence. In this case, the phone examination and the search of Köse’s home were among the details reported after the incident. The final decision stated that the investigation had not produced evidence of another person’s intent or fault.
Köse was a prominent Turkish music producer. His death prompted public attention, particularly after reports emerged about the handwritten note and his illness. The completed inquiry has now clarified the prosecutor’s position: no suspicious involvement was established, and no further criminal proceedings will be brought on the evidence reviewed.
The report also contained a separate account of an unrelated death in Bartın province. A 35-year-old barber, Murat Barışık, was found dead in a stream bed in the Kozcağız area with a gunshot wound to the back of his neck. Gendarmerie officers began searching for the person or people responsible, while the Bartın Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office opened a wide-ranging investigation.