THE BODY IN THE LANDFILL SITE: Timeline as international manhunt for suspect continues

On Thursday, November 21, last year, Essex Police announced it had arrested a 44-year-old man of no fixed abode on suspicion of murder in connection with the dissapearannnce of another from Chelmsford amid serious concenrs for his welfare.

A force spokesperson said: "Officers launched an investigation following reports of a 46-year-old man missing from Chelmsford on Monday 18 November, and our enquiries quickly established serious concerns for his welfare.

"Now, we can confirm a 44-year-old man of no fixed abode has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody for questioning."

Officers were also carrying out enquiries at premises in Duke Street in the city centre.

Detective Chief Inspector Louise Metcalfe, who is leading the investigation called Operation Alberta, said: “This is a fast-moving investigation with officers working around the clock to establish the facts of the case.

“As with all investigations of this nature we are in regular contact with the missing man’s family and they are being supported by specialist officers.

“We would urge people not to speculate about this the incident while we carry out our work, but I’d like to reassure everyone that we do not believe there is any wider risk to the public.”

The following day, police named the missing man as Cumali Turhan (above), understood to be of Turkish heritage, giving his age as 45, and revealed that he was actually last heard from just after midnight on Tuesday (19 November) when he was in The Globe pub on Rainsford Road.

They also had information to suggest he may have later been in Barista, in Duke Street, and officers were carrying out enquiries to find him while continuing to question the man arrested on suspicion of murder.

Ms Metcalfe said: “Cumali is still missing and we have teams of specially trained officers carrying out painstaking search activity to find him, as well as investigating CCTV and other lines of enquiry.

“He is being treated as a missing person but as part of our investigation a man is in custody having been arrested on suspicion of murder.

“We are building a picture of the circumstances which led up to Cumali’s disappearance, including the possible involvement of other people.

“However, we still need to hear from anyone who may have information which may help our investigation.

“I need anyone who may have seen him in The Globe pub around midnight from Monday into Tuesday, or in and around the area of Barista in the early hours of the Tuesday to contact us.

“I also need to speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Duke Street area at around the same time.”

On Saturday, November 23, police revealed that Ciprian Ilie, 44, had been charged in connection with the investigation.

He was charged with assisting an offender (murder) and preventing lawful and decent burial of a dead body.

He appeard at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court the same day and was remanded into custody to next appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on December 23.

The force spokesperson said: "Investigators from our serious crime directorate are continuing to piece together the circumstances around how Cumali came to be missing.

"Specialist search and forensic teams are focussing their efforts in a number of locations, including around the Duke Street area of Chelmsford and Barista specifically."

Ms Metcalfe, who is leading the investigation, said: “We’re continuing to build a picture of the circumstances leading up to Cumali being reported as missing to us, including whether others have been involved.

“That work includes very focused forensic and search efforts in and around Chelmsford as well as reviewing many hours of CCTV footage.

“As part of this investigation, one man has now been charged. Today, our investigation will continue at pace and we will endeavour to keep our communities as well-informed as we possibly can.

“I would reiterate that I would still like to hear from anyone who may have information which may help our investigation.

“If you’ve seen Cumali in the early part of this week, or specifically in the Globe pub from around midnight on Monday into Tuesday, or in or near Barista in the early hours of the Tuesday, please contact us.”

Later the same day, the force confirmed a second person had been identified as a suspect, but he had left the country on November 19.

A force spokesperson said: "We’re now able to confirm that as a result of the work carried by our investigators a second man has been identified as a suspect and work is ongoing to locate him.

"At this stage, we’re working with a number of partners in relation to his location."

Ms Metcalfe 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.

“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.”

The force also published a version of the press release in Turkish.

In an update on Wednesday, November 27, police said Mr Turhan was reported missing after he didn’t arrive at work.

This was when it was revealed a landfill site formed part of the search areas.

A force spokesperson said: "Our specialist teams have been working day and night, to build a picture of the circumstances leading up to Cumali’s disappearance.

"Our forensic work has been focussed on several locations, including the Duke Street area of Chelmsford and Barista specifically.

"We have also searched a refuse transfer site in the Chelmsford area.

"We are exploring all possibilities to locate Cumali and this activity will now involve a detailed search of part of a landfill site in Essex.

"This specialised search activity will involve teams of officers working every day in a very challenging environment.

"We’ve identified an area of 5,000 square metres on the site where our search activity will be focused.

"We want to thank the owners of the site for their patience and understanding while this vital work is undertaken.

"It is methodical work which will take time and we will not rush it. We’re committed to finding answers for Cumali’s family.

"We understand that this investigation will be very concerning for the local community in Chelmsford, and especially the city’s Turkish community.

"We want to thank people from across this community for coming forward to speak to us and assisting with our investigation. We still want more people to come forward."

On Friday, December 6 police named the second suspect as Ceyhan Dinler, 38, from Chelmsford (above at Stansted Airport and below), and released images of him, saying he was "wanted in connection with the disappearance of Cumali."

A force spokesperson said: "The team leading the investigation can confirm that Ceyhan Dinler left the country via London Stansted Airport on the same day Cumali was last in contact with anyone.

"This complex investigation is moving at a pace and officers are liaising with partners and the appropriate authorities as they look to locate Ceyhan Dinler as quickly as possible.

"Alongside this strand of our investigation, we are continuing to piece together the circumstances around how Cumali came to be missing.

"Our forensics officers have been searching a number of locations around Duke Street and a refuse transfer site in the city. We continue our detailed and methodical search of part of a landfill site in Essex.

"This painstaking and challenging activity started on Wednesday 27 November and focuses on a 5,000 square metres area of the site."

DCI Metcalfe said: "It is more than two weeks since Cumali’s disappearance and teams of officers from across Essex Police are working hard to understand what has happened to him.

“This is an extremely challenging investigation, with a missing man at its heart, we are determined to get answers for his family and bring those responsible to justice.

“We continue to appeal for information and would ask anyone with information on Cumali’s disappearance to get in touch.”

On December 23 Ilie pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender (murder) and preventing lawful and decent burial of a dead body when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court.

He was remanded into custody and a trial date was set for September 2025.

Ms Metcalfe said: "It is five weeks since anyone saw Cumali in The Globe pub on Rainsford Road.

"Our enquiries suggest he may later have been in Barista in Duke Street. This is an extremely challenging investigation, and we have a team of officers from across Essex Police working to find answers for Cumali’s family."

On Sunday, January 12, police announced that Mr Turhan's body was found at the landfill site in Stanway, near Colchester, the day before.

A force spokesperson said: "The search for the missing man has now concluded and his family have been informed of the development."

DCI Metcalfe said: "Specialist officers have been working diligently for 45 days at the landfill site in conditions that have called heavily on their resilience.

"Their hard work has continued unabated even during the extreme weather to support detectives who have worked quickly to progress the extremely challenging investigation.

"Throughout this difficult time, we have been in regular contact with Cumali’s family.

"They will continue to be supported by specialist officers as it will take some time for them to come to terms with this news."

Enquiries at the landfill site are expected to continue for several days and a fresh appeal for information about Ceyhan Dinler's whereabouts was made.

Anyone who has information that could help the investigation can report here.