Background
The discovery of four siblings dead in an apartment in Fatih, Istanbul, in November 2019 was discussed across Turkey for days. The siblings were between 48 and 60 years old and lived together. According to reports they had been in financial difficulty for some time; their electricity had been cut off over an unpaid bill.
Various claims circulated in the first days, so it is important to rely on the conclusions announced by the authorities.
What happened
The deaths were noticed on 5–6 November 2019. A note on the apartment door warned that a dangerous substance was inside, asked people to call the police and not to enter. Reports differ on how the situation came to light: some say residents of the building raised the alarm, others that acquaintances from a workplace did. When a locksmith opened the locked door, all four siblings were found dead.
According to the Istanbul Governor's Office, cyanide levels found in all cases were lethal. Teams examined the site with safety precautions, and it was reported that there was no risk to others nearby.
The siblings' apartment was on the first floor of a five-storey building. Reports said the family had faced serious financial hardship for a long time, that electricity had been cut over an unpaid bill, and that people close to them offered help which they declined. Details vary between sources, so only the general picture is given.
Investigation
Prosecutors ordered autopsies and toxicology tests. According to findings from the Forensic Medicine Institute, the siblings died from a substance they took of their own will; no evidence of a third party's involvement was announced. Later reports on who wrote the note differed; it was reported that the institute determined it was written by the youngest sibling.
Prosecutors concluded that the deaths were a collective suicide and issued a decision not to prosecute. No one is therefore on trial or suspected in the file.
After the event, the public debated whether it was murder or suicide. Official examinations largely ended that debate, while acquaintances of the family also spoke of the circumstances created by the siblings' refusal of help.
Where it stands today
The event revived debate on poverty, isolation and social-support mechanisms. Acquaintances described the siblings as dignified people who had declined offers of help.
This page is kept beyond the 'mysterious deaths' framing seen in headlines, to remember the siblings and to stress the importance of reaching out to people in hardship. Anyone going through a difficult time can seek help from local support lines and social services.
The siblings' story was cited as an example of how individual despair can remain invisible. Social-work specialists discussed ways of reaching people in similar situations.