Serial ‘baby-faced killer’ captured before fleeing to Syria

GAZİANTEP – Doğan News Agency

Kaya was transferred back to the prison after he was taken to court following a health check. DHA Photo

A serial killer who escaped from prison in the southeastern province of Gaziantep in January has been captured by gendarmerie forces before attempting to flee to Syria.

Police and gendarmerie forces launched an extensive investigation to capture the 36-year-old killer, Ali Kaya, following his breakout on Jan. 5 after he took advantage of prison visiting hours.

The special gendarmerie team initially learned Kaya, convicted of 10 murders, went to the provinces of Mersin and Adana and would try to cross the border with Syria. After the investigation went deeper, security forces determined that Kaya came back to Gaziantep and was staying at a friend’s house.

Nicknamed the “baby-faced killer,” Kaya was captured in a raid after trying to escape when he realized the house was surrounded by gendarmerie. He was carrying a gun and a list including 10 names on it, the reports said. It was claimed that Kaya was planning to kill the people on the list.

Kaya was transferred back to the prison after he was taken to court following a health check.

According to reports, Kaya was only 18 years old when he committed his first murder, killing his uncle. He committed most of his murders in the touristic southern province of Antalya.

He was briefly released in March 2012 following a report stating he had a mental disorder. He then went on to attack people who had testified against him during his trial, killing three and injuring two.

He also killed an individual who was staying at his parental home before going on the run.