He Lived With Her Rotting Corpse for 20 Days — What He Told Police Was Even Stranger

A Turkish national living in Milwaukee is facing a reckless homicide charge after police say he lived with his girlfriend's decomposing body for nearly a month, all while attempting to clean up the scene, impersonate her to family, and delay reporting her death until a property inspection forced his hand.

A Delayed Confession — and a Disturbing Discovery

On Feb. 27, 2025, 22-year-old Serkan Akcilad went to the Milwaukee Police Administration Building and told officers his girlfriend, 21-year-old Silan Tut, was dead in their apartment. He claimed her body had been there for approximately 20 days, and said he had not come forward earlier because he was unfamiliar with U.S. laws, Newsweek reported.

When police arrived at the couple's apartment on North 10th Street, they found Tut's body lying face up on the floor, a pillow carefully placed beneath her head. Officers noted a strong odor and visible signs that the body had begun to decompose.

12 Stab Wounds, a Staged Scene, and a Cover-Up

According to the complaint, a forensic examination later revealed 12 stab wounds to Tut's neck, back, abdomen, and arm — injuries that fatally damaged her heart, lungs, and liver, as reported by PEOPLE. Investigators found no sharp kitchen knives in the apartment — only dull butter knives and box cutters. The apartment itself appeared to have been thoroughly cleaned, but luminol testing revealed traces of a large blood pool hidden beneath a newly purchased area rug.

Authorities also noted surveillance footage showing Akcilad purchasing bleach and insect repellent from a local Pick n Save on Jan. 24 — the same night neighbors reported hearing a loud argument between the couple. That date is believed to be the day Tut was killed.

Akcilad admitted to sleeping next to Tut's body, and said he only moved her to the location where she was found just one day before contacting police.

Pretending She Was Alive

Police say Akcilad spent the weeks following Tut's death trying to make it seem like she was still alive. He allegedly used her phone to message her family in Turkey, sending them old photos and even claiming she was attending a wedding. He continued communicating with them, hoping to avoid raising suspicion.

When confronted, he also told investigators he had attempted suicide the day after her death by shooting himself in the head with a nail gun. The nail was reportedly still lodged in his skull when he finally came forward, and required surgical removal.

Investigators say Akcilad's actions — including the cleanup, staged body, false communications, and failure to report the death — paint the picture of an intentional cover-up, despite his claims of innocence.

What's Next

Akcilad was charged with first-degree reckless homicide and was jailed on a $1 million bond.

In a case marked by disturbing details and a haunting delay, what police found behind closed doors was far more chilling than any excuse could explain. And in the end, no amount of bleach, texts, or silence could keep the truth buried.

References: Wis. Man, Who Lived with Girlfriend’s Decomposing Body for 3 Weeks Before Reporting Death, Charged with Reckless Homicide | Man Slept Next to Girlfriend's Dead Body for Weeks Before Reporting It