Siblings allege father beat mother, causing 11-month-old Büşra's death in Sivas

October 2, 2026 at 03:51 PM2 min

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Siblings of 11-month-old Büşra Balıkçı told investigators their father beat their mother, causing her to fall with the baby, who died from the impact. The children, now in state care, previously claimed a man in a blue sweater took the baby to Diyarbakır. Six suspects, including the parents, are now set for cross-examination in prison.

Key Facts

Büşra Balıkçı, 11 months old, disappeared on September 10 from a seasonal herding camp in İncidere Yaylası, Divriği, Sivas.
Her siblings told specialists that father Yusuf Balıkçı, 41, beat mother Elif Balıkçı, 27, causing her to fall with the baby, who died from the impact.
Six suspects, including the parents, are jailed and will undergo cross-examination in prison.
Yusuf Balıkçı is accused of systematic violence against his wife and children, including throwing another child from a second-floor balcony in Diyarbakır.
Search teams with drones, cadaver dogs, and commandos continue looking for the baby's body in the area.

New Sibling Testimony

Children of the Balıkçı family, now under state protection at Sivas 4 Eylül Children's Home, were re-interviewed by specialists and sociologists. They initially claimed a man in a blue sweater named Mehmet took the baby to Diyarbakır, but the suspect was released after phone records did not match. In their latest statements, the siblings said father Yusuf Balıkçı, 41, violently beat mother Elif Balıkçı, 27, on the day of the incident. They alleged the mother fell unconscious with Büşra in her arms, and the 11-month-old died from a heavy blow during the fall. Investigators are considering the possibility that the baby's body was later left in open terrain frequented by wild animals.

Suspects and Charges

Father Yusuf Balıkçı and mother Elif Balıkçı are jailed on charges of intentional killing of a child descendant. Four relatives—Rahime Budak, Özcan Budak, Mehmet Resul Balıkçı, and Mihtad Balıkçı—are jailed for destroying, concealing, or altering evidence and aiding the offender. A deep investigation into Yusuf Balıkçı revealed allegations of systematic violence against his wife and children, including throwing another child from a second-floor balcony in Diyarbakır. Following the new testimony, authorities decided to cross-examine all six jailed suspects in prison.

Search and Forensic Work

Microscopic biological findings on baby clothes found in the area are being examined at the Forensic Medicine Institute. Commando teams, AFAD, and UMKE units continue searching with UAVs, drones, and cadaver dogs. The family had called 112 on September 10 to report Büşra missing while sleeping in the tent.