Family’s heartache as detectives find body of man who vanished from Shepparton

THE body of a man who vanished from Shepparton has been found dumped in the Murray River 60km from where he was last seen, while police continue to probe drug crime links in the disturbing murder case.

Umit “Ergun” Bolat with his former wife Melek and his three eldest children Umut (son), Merve (wedding dress) and Ebru (daughter on far right). Picture: Supplied

UPDATE: THE body of a man who vanished from Shepparton has been found dumped in the Murray River 60km from where he was last seen, while police continue to probe drug crime links in the disturbing murder case.

Three men were on Thursday charged over the alleged killing as the mysterious case of the disappearance of Umit Ergun Bolat came to a grisly end.

They are a 29-year-old and 26-year-old from Lemnos, 9km northeast of Shepparton, and a 44-year-old from Ardmona, 11km west of the city.

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It’s understood information they provided led police to narrow their search to sections of the river east of Cobram.

Mr Bolat’s family in Tatura was called to their local police station on Thursday morning as detectives told them to prepare for the worst.

Police divers searched the river, and the body was found near Dick’s Island about 3pm.

It had been two months since Mr Bolat, 45, was last seen alive on a Shepparton street.

Umit “Ergun” Bolat with daughter Merve on her wedding day. Picture: Supplied

Police became suspicious after his ute was found abandoned with the keys still in the ignition.

CCTV showed it had been placed by there by a younger man in the early hours of August 14 — two days after anyone had seen or heard from Mr Bolat.

Police had kept their investigation quiet for more than a month but last week the Missing Persons Squad made a public call for help amid mounting evidence the missing man had met with foul play.

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Umit Bolat is a local father who works seasonally on fruit farms. Photo: Supplied.

Detectives then raided homes across the region on Wednesday, as Mr Bolat’s eldest children told the Herald Sun of their anguish.

Devastated family were consoling each other last night and preparing to tell Mr Bolat’s parents who remain on holiday in Turkey.

Umit Bolat’s distinctive yellow Holden ute. It was found at a supermarket car park. Photo: Victoria Police

His eldest daughters Merve and Ebru had earlier told the Herald Sun they needed closure but would struggle to accept the death.

Ebru, 23, and older sister Merve, 25, said they didn’t know how they could explain the tragedy to their younger sisters Aylah, 12, and Sahara, 8, and 20-year-old brother Umut who has Down syndrome.

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