Turkish Jewish couple murdered in their Istanbul home

Jak and Georgia Karako found stabbed to death; caretaker a prime suspect

By ToI Staff 22 August 2014, 11:31 pm 17 Edit

Scene outside the Karokos apartment building in Istanbul, Turkey, where the couple was found stabbed to death, August 22, 2014. (Screenshot from Hurriyet TV/DHA)

A prominent Turkish Jewish businessman and his wife were stabbed to death Friday at their apartment in Istanbul’s upscale Ortakoy neighborhood.

The caretaker of the two victims — who were named as Jak Karako, 77, and Georgia Karako, 69 — was said to be the prime suspect in the killings. Police launched a manhunt for him.

Karako established Ören Bayan, one of the most famous textile brands in Turkey. His sons later took over the business, but it was no longer owned by the family.

The motive for the murders was said to be unclear.

An unnamed source in Turkey told The Algemeiner website that there is so much mistrust between members of the Turkish Jewish community and the Turkish government that the truth about the couple’s murder may never be revealed. “It will be some manipulated version of what had happened,” said the source.

“There have been several reported murders of Turkish Jewish businessmen throughout the past several years, but these incidents were either never solved or were blamed on some small local disputes which the community always looked at with suspicion,” the source added.

Police were called to the couple’s home after close relatives said they could not reach them, the Daily Sabah reported.

Police surrounded the building and interrogated locals, Hurriyet said.