Bio

William T. Turner was born on July 2, 1945. He spent his early years in a typical American family setting. However, details about his childhood and upbringing are scarce. Much of the information about him focuses on his adult life.

William Turner was married to Shirley Turner, and they had at least one child together, a daughter named Anetra. The couple's relationship faced significant challenges, leading to separation. It is unclear when these issues began, but it is known that Turner and Shirley were estranged at the time of the events that would later define his life.

Turner lived in Duval County, Florida, where he worked various jobs. Specifics about his employment history or hobbies during his early adulthood are not readily available. The community in which he lived does not appear to have been particularly notable in the records.

In the years leading up to the tragic events of July 3, 1984, Turner's mental state seemed to decline. His relationship with his wife became increasingly strained. There were reports that he held strong beliefs about his wife's behavior, which contributed to his feelings of betrayal and anger.

These tensions culminated in a violent incident that took place shortly after his 39th birthday. Following this event, Turner was arrested, marking the beginning of a long legal process that would lead to his conviction and sentencing.

Murder Story

On July 3, 1984, William T. Turner committed two murders in Duval County, Florida. He broke into the home of his estranged wife, Shirley Turner. In front of their daughter, Anetra, he stabbed Shirley twenty-two times. After this attack, Joyce Brown, Shirley's roommate, ran from the house seeking help.

William Turner pursued Joyce and found her at a telephone booth where she was trying to call 911. He cornered her there and stabbed her fifty-one times. During this attack, he shouted, “You’re the one!” He believed that Joyce and Shirley were involved in a lesbian relationship and blamed Joyce for the problems in his marriage.

The police arrested William Turner on the same day as the murders. He was indicted later that month on charges of first-degree murder for both Shirley and Joyce. On August 16, 1985, the jury found him guilty of both counts. On November 1, 1985, he received a life sentence for the murder of Shirley Turner and a death sentence for the murder of Joyce Brown.