CROSS HILL, S.C. – This week, a father in Cross Hill, South Carolina, was charged with the murder of his young son, nearly 35 years after the boy’s tragic death. In 1989, Victor Lee Turner broke down on TV after finding his dead 5-year-old son, Justin Turner, stuffed inside a cabinet in the family’s camper near their home. It was a heartbreaking discovery that shocked the community and caused widespread grief. Justin had been strangled and sexually assaulted, and the case went cold for decades until recent advancements in forensic science helped authorities connect Victor and the boy’s stepmother, Megan Turner, to the long-unsolved murder.
According to police, Justin was allegedly strangled with a ligature in the early morning hours of March 3, 1989, before he was set to go to school, and he was reported missing the same day. Investigators believe that Justin’s body was hidden in the camper “a short time” after his death, and a forensic pathologist’s report suggested that he died “near the time he was last seen alive.” Microscopic fibers on the ligature were consistent with Justin’s shirt collar material, and a ligature that was found in the Turners’ home was believed to be the suspected murder weapon.
Despite suspicion falling on Megan Turner initially, charges against her were dropped in 1990 due to a lack of evidence. However, recent developments in forensic and scientific technologies led to the arrest of both Victor and Megan, who have been charged with murder.
If convicted, they face up to life in prison. During the press conference announcing their arrest, Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis expressed his sympathy for the family and acknowledged the tragic loss of Justin, who could have lived a full life if he had not been taken from the world at such a young age.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of advancing forensic science and technologies to bring closure to families and communities affected by unsolved crimes. The diligence and dedication of law enforcement and forensic experts have played a crucial role in solving this long-standing cold case, which has finally brought a sense of justice to the memory of young Justin Turner.