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Kazakh authorities have opened a murder investigation after a family of four from Atyrau Region disappeared, intensifying a nationwide search as the family’s mobile phones last pinged in Shymkent. The case has drawn wide attention amid a coordinated push to find the missing relatives.

This was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.

What authorities have confirmed

Police have registered the case under the Criminal Code article for murder, a standard legal step when two or more people vanish at the same time. According to Police Colonel Kuttybai Sadykov, first deputy head of the Atyrau Regional Police Department, a report on the disappearance was received on 25 December 2025, triggering immediate countrywide search measures.

A special rapid-response investigative team with Interior Ministry specialists is coordinating the effort, Sadykov said, adding that the probe is proceeding strictly within the law.

How the search is being conducted

Investigators are checking all medical facilities, including private clinics, and analyzing telecommunications data. Officials say the missing family’s phones were intermittently activated in different parts of the country, with the most recent signals detected in the city of Shymkent.

Who is missing

The family lived in Zhangeldi village, Kyzylkoga District. They reportedly left home in an unknown direction in November 2025 and have not made contact since. Those sought are the head of the household, his wife, and their two adult children, aged 33 and 35. Authorities also confirmed the family’s youngest daughter and her husband are currently abroad; police have not received a missing-person report regarding them, though this information is being verified.

Police appeal to the public

Law enforcement urges residents not to spread unverified information and to report any credible tips immediately. Contact numbers: 98-20-78, 98-20-88, +7 701 304 0012.

Officials emphasize that all versions are being examined and that updates will be provided through official channels.