Dutch man found dead in Turkey’s south after 37 days missing

MERSİN

A Dutch national who was reported missing over a month ago was found dead on Aug. 14 in the Silifke district of the southern province of Mersin, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Joey Hoffman, 22, his Dutch friend Björn Breukers, and his wife Derya Ün Breukers, from Mersin’s Tarsus district, came to the Narlıkuyu region in July to buy land and also to have a vacation.

Hoffman reportedly went missing during a mountain walk after Hoffman changed his route.

Hoffman’s brother, Robin Hoffman, and two of his friends had come to Mersin to try to help find him. 

Robin Hoffman had told reporters that he had not heard from his brother since July 8. He also said he had printed “missing” posters and distributed them in Mersin and the neighboring province of Adana. 

“We first went to the police in the Netherlands and then came to Turkey with two friends of mine. We also went to the police here. We have not been able to get any news from him or any clues about his whereabouts. We will stay in Turkey until we hear about my brother,” he had said.

Around 80 research and rescue workers were searching for Hoffman, while police questioned around 100 people near the scene.

A search and rescue dog brought from the Netherlands also participated in rescue efforts in the rural areas.

Eventually his body was found early on Aug. 14 in a dried-up stream bed in Narlıkuyu by a rescue dog brought from the capital Ankara.

A local public prosecutor examined Hoffman’s body but could not find any trace of stabbing or gunshot wounds, according to the initial investigation.