Bio

Carlton Akee Turner was born on July 4, 1979, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was later adopted and grew up in a family that included his adoptive parents, Carlton Sr. and Tonya Turner. Little is known about his early childhood, but it is clear that his adoptive parents were retired from the Air Force and had moved to the Dallas area about a year before the crimes he committed.

As a child, Turner faced a series of challenges. He had a troubled upbringing, which included reports of disciplinary issues from a young age. At the age of 14, he had a serious incident when he sexually assaulted a neighborhood boy. This history of inappropriate behavior indicated that he might have been struggling with underlying issues.

Turner completed around nine years of education and held jobs, such as working as a laborer. However, he also faced significant legal trouble, including a conviction for stealing a car and another for aggravated robbery. At the time of his offenses, he was on probation for a robbery charge.

Murder Story

On August 8, 1998, in Irving, Texas, 19-year-old Carlton Akee Turner shot his adoptive parents, Carlton Sr., 43, and Tonya, 40. After attacking them, he moved their bodies into the garage, where they were later discovered. Following the murders, Turner took cash and jewelry from their home and used their credit cards for his personal purchases, which included clothing and jewelry. He even forged a check from his parents' account.

It wasn't until neighbors became concerned about the absence of the Turners that the police were alerted. They had not seen or heard from the couple for several days and noticed that Turner was acting strangely, including driving his parents' vehicles. The Irving Police obtained a search warrant for the family’s home due to these reports. When they entered, they found the bodies of Carlton Sr. and Tonya Turner in the garage.

Turner was arrested shortly thereafter on outstanding traffic warrants. During this arrest, police discovered marijuana on him. At his trial, Turner claimed that he shot his father in self-defense. However, this defense conflicted with earlier statements he made in media interviews, where he denied any involvement in the murders. Turner also did not provide an explanation for killing his mother during the trial, stating he felt nothing when he committed the acts.

In 1999, Turner was convicted of capital murder. The jury sentenced him to death, and multiple appeals were filed over the years, all of which were denied. As a result, he was executed by lethal injection on July 10, 2008. In his final statement, Turner expressed regret for his actions and apologized to his uncle, who was present for the execution. He acknowledged that he caused a lot of pain but stated that he accepted responsibility for his actions.