Star Witness Found Dead
Updated 3:19 PM PST, Mon, Jan 12, 2009
A man who recently testified in court that his stepfather killed his mother is now dead, according to his family.
Sean Turner, 25, who was the key witness in the trial of his stepfather, Keith Turner, died of a drug overdose according to National City police investigators. They believe there was no foul play in the death. The medical examiner's office will perform an autopsy and toxicology report to confirm the cause of death.
Sean's uncle Rod Underhill said he found out about Sean's death on Sunday evening. "He was found unconscious in his room and emergency services tried to help him," Underhill said.
Underhill is the brother-in-law of Toby Turner, Sean's mother. He said he saw Sean weekly at family functions and said Sean spent much of his days in bed because of a diabetic condition. Sean also had a history of drug abuse.
Underhill said Sean was very distraught, especially about having to relive his stepfather's killing of his mother in court. A jury recently convicted Keith Turner of voluntary manslaughter after a very emotional trial. At one point Keith Turner wept while Sean Turner testified about the night he saw his mother's dead body. Read the article.
"I believe ... that whatever he saw when his mother was killed was too difficult for him and he was unable to go on," Underhill said.
Underhill's family said Sean would be remembered as being a sweet young man and an accomplished pianist.
Keith Turner is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23.
First Published: Jan 12, 2009 6:39 AM PST
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