Turkey releases Joey Hoffmann's body; cause of death still unclear

The body of Joey Hoffmann will soon return to the Netherlands, a spokesperson for the Turkish police said to the Telegraaf. A DNA test confirmed that the body is indeed that of the missing Haaksbergen man, though the cause of his death is still unclear.

"The DNA test report arrived on Monday", the spokesperson said to the newspaper. "It will still take several weeks for the cause of death to be determined."

With the positive identification, Hoffmann's body was released. The Dutch consulate in Ankara will arrange for the body to be brought to the Netherlands.

The young Haaksbergen man traveled to Silifke in Turkey with Bjorn and Derya Breukers late in June. He went to help them set up a new home. On July 8th they parted ways because Hoffmann wanted to return home, but he never made it back to Haaksbergen. His body was found in a dried up river bed last week, near the property in Silifke where he camped with the Breukers couple. There were no signs of violence on the body, AD reported at the time.