Preliminary Report Says Heart Attack Killed Turkish Actress Ece İrtem

Overview

• The Turkish Institute of Forensic Medicine’s preliminary autopsy attributes Ece İrtem’s death to a heart attack and reports no clear signs of trauma or poisoning.
• Authorities stress the finding is provisional and say toxicology, microbiology and histology results are needed before a final cause is issued.
• Ertim’s lawyer and family pointed to three scars on her left arm and asked investigators to probe a possible monkey bite from a recent trip to Thailand.
• Investigators are continuing targeted analyses of the arm marks and are assessing the hypothesis that an infection such as sepsis could have contributed to her sudden death.
• Ece İrtem was found dead in her Istanbul home after turning 35, the case has drawn strong public attention, and officials say the final forensic report will be released when laboratory work is complete.