Skull fragments belonging to economist Korhan Berzeg, missing since June 17, 2023, were found last week in Turkey’s Balıkesir province. Berzeg had last been seen departing on a walk with his dog from which he never returned. DNA tests confirmed the remains as Berzeg’s after they matched DNA samples belonging to his daughter. Following the discovery of the skull remains, three bones were also found.
The Balıkesir governor confirmed that the remains were found close to Berzeg’s house, along with credit cards and identity cards belonging to the late economist.
An investigation involving 62 personnel and search dogs has been deployed to the area in order to find further remains.
Berzeg’s disappearance
Nothing was heard from Korhan Berzeg after he departed on a morning walk with his dog last June. The first of his remains were found last Tuesday, April 23, some 312 days after his disappearance.
An announcement from the Balıkesir governor indicated that the remains had been found approximately 3.5 km from Berzeg’s residence in a heavily forested area by local residents Tuesday afternoon, who proceeded to contact authorities.
Berzeg’s dog was found in good health 74 days following the economist’s disappearance.
Despite the involvement of numerous authorities, initial attempts to find Berzeg were unsuccessful. Search operations were ended on October 24, 2023, 130 days after his disappearance.
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Last September, Berzeg’s wife Angela spoke to Medyascope regarding her missing husband, saying:
“It’s possible he was kidnapped and taken somewhere or just got lost in the forest. But if he had gotten lost in the forest, I think we would have found him by now. For this reason, I see it as more likely that he was kidnapped. Why would he be kidnapped? I have no clue. There’s no reason for anyone to kidnap him.”
Korhan Berzeg was born in 1940 in Balıkesir province. A former professor at İstanbul Technical University, Berzeg worked for the World Bank in the United States and was once a professor of Turkey’s current Minister of Finance Mehmet Şimşek.
Written/translated for Medyascope by Leo Kendrick
