Selim Esen remembered on social media as a kind and loving man

Turkish citizen struggled with addiction before starting course in peer counselling

Selim Esen was loving, tender-hearted, gentle and did not judge others.

That’s how Esen, whose disappearance is now part of a murder investigation, was described by his friend Richard Harrop.

Harrop first met Esen in the summer three years ago, at Barbara Hall Park near Church and Wellesley Sts., in downtown Toronto.

“We often went for walks or would meet for coffee,” Harrop wrote in a Facebook post, which he called a “tribute” to his friend in a message to the Star.

Esen, 44, was reported missing in April 2017. Last week, Toronto police charged 66-year-old Bruce McArthur with first-degree murder in the deaths of Esen and Andrew Kinsman. Police believe there may be more victims.

Harrop described Esen as “a gentle friend” in a Facebook post.

“We had the kind of relationship where you don’t have to be in touch every day to feel close to one another,” Harrop wrote.

“He was very comfortable being with me and would often offer to help me around the house. One night when I was wearing my djellaba, a robe I bought in Morocco, he offered to sew the hem telling me he had once worked at a tailor shop.”

Esen was a Turkish citizen, the Turkish consulate confirmed. The consulate has been in touch with Esen’s family and Toronto police.

Harrop told the Star in a Facebook message that Esen lived in Istanbul and went to university in Ankara.

When they first met in Barbara Hall Park, Esen struck up a conversation about what Harrop was reading.

“He had an accent and when I discovered he was from Turkey, I became more interested in chatting as I had visited there and really loved it,” Harrop wrote.

“We talked about my travels and his growing up there. He had come to Canada to be with a partner he’d met in Turkey but was that day going back home to Turkey as it hadn’t worked out.”

Esen and Harrop rekindled their friendship when they ran into each other in Toronto the following year.

“He was a very kind, loving person. He was extremely trusting and did not judge people.” RICHARD HARROP FRIEND OF SELIM ESEN

Harrop said that Esen struggled with addiction. Harrop wrote that he would meet Esen for coffee before appointments “so he’d be up and actually keep the appointment.”

They spent holidays together — Thanksgiving in 2016 and again at Christmas.

“We talked a lot about our childhood, our relationships with our fathers, our education and philosophies of life,” Harrop wrote. “Selim was very bright and had studied philosophy at university and wanted to teach.”

In March 2017, Harrop was in hospital following an ankle surgery. Harrop and Esen sent text messages back and forth, making plans for Esen to come visit.

Esen had just completed a weeklong course at a community centre in peer counselling, “and was so proud of his accomplishment that he sent me a copy of his certificate,” Harrop wrote. “He really felt he was getting a handle on his problem. Then the texts stopped.”

Harrop did not hear from Esen again.

“He was a very kind, loving person. He was extremely trusting and did not judge people,” Harrop wrote.

“RIP Selim.”