Following his disappearance, 43-year-old DJ Koray Apergin, owner of Turkish language radio station Bizim FM, was found dead.
According to Enfield Metropolitan Police, the DJ was pronounced dead at the scene after the body was discovered in Essex woodlands over the weekend. A fourth man suspected of murder was arrested on Monday.
Around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Detective Chief Inspector Kate Kieran of Specialist Crime said investigators believe Apergin and a 33-year-old woman were kidnapped from outside their home in Ebony Crescent, Enfield.
A police report was received at 1:51 p.m. Friday that the pair had not been seen since the night before.
“Those who were in that area at that time, who may have seen anything, no matter how small, should contact police immediately”, Kieran said. “Please check your doorbell camera or dash cam footage – you may have captured something crucial to our investigation.”
A colleague of the victim, Altan Akturk, wrote on social media that Apergin and the woman, identified as the DJ’s girlfriend, were missing.
Enfield Metropolitan Police said the woman has since been located and is physically unharmed.
Earlier this week, police made three arrests in the Kent area on suspicion of murder. They remain in custody. On Monday, detectives made a fourth arrest: a 55-year-old man in the Tottenham area on suspicion of murder. Police have not disclosed a motive.
“This is an extremely fast-paced and complex investigation that involves numerous crime scenes,” Kieran said in a statement on Monday. “Despite the fact that the investigation is still in its infancy, I am speculating that Koray’s kidnappers may have been known to him, and that this was not a random attack.”
“Residents in Enfield and Essex can be assured that we are doing everything possible to determine what happened and bring those responsible to justice,” the chief inspector said.
Turkish Police Association said it will continue to “support the investigation and engage with the Turkish, Turkish Cypriot, and Kurdish community.”
“We are praying for Koray, his family, and his loved ones during this difficult time,” the association posted on Twitter.