University student might have killed baby before beheading it, initial findings shows

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

Ü.T. was arrested after her interrogation on Nov. 16 at the Denizli Police Department. AA photo

Police’s initial investigation regarding the case of a student at Denizli’s Pamukkale University who beheaded her baby after giving birth showed that the children might have been born alive and not stillborn as initially claimed. 

A knife has been found with evidence of blood together with a blanket with bloodstains, media reports said today.

The third-year chemistry student identified as Ü.T. had initially confessed yesterday to the police to beheading her baby – who she claimed was stillborn – right after giving birth in the restrooms of the student dorm of her campus three days ago. 

Ü.T. had hidden the head and the body of the baby in a refrigerator inside her dormitory. Police learned about the incident on Nov. 15 after the student’s boyfriend convinced her to report it to authorities.

However, Anadolu Agency reported that during her interrogation today that Ü.T. had additionally confessed to stabbing the baby girl and sending a picture of the beheaded body to her boyfriend, who was away from Denizli, performing his military service.

The boyfriend, F.C., who works at the university canteen, initially told the police that he learned of the incident after he had returned to the area during a short period of leave from military service.

The knife found during police inspection had strengthened the suspicion of murder, reports said. However, Denizli Gov. Abdülkadir Demir asked for all to refrain from making prompt conclusions, adding that an autopsy on the baby’s body was still ongoing. 

Ü.T. was arrested by the court following a demand from prosecutors. 

Commenting on the incident, Sports and Youth Minister Suat Kılıç told MPs during a meeting at Parliament’s Planning and Budget Commission on Nov. 15 that the case was being investigated with maximum care and confidentiality.