MALICE MURDER
GUILTY
DEATH BY ANTI-FREEZE
JULIA LYNN
WOMACK TURNER
MALICE MURDER
GUILTY
DEATH BY ANTI-FREEZE
On March 3, 1995, Cobb County Police Officer Glenn Turner was found dead in his home by his wife. Lynn Turner. The autopsy resulted in a cause of death listed as Cardiac Dysrythmia. Four days later, the defendant moved into an apartment in Cumming, Georgia with her boyfriend Randy Thompson, a Fireman in Cumming. On January 22, 2001, Randy Thompson was also found dead in his apartment. Because the Medical Examiner found Calcium Oxylate crystals in Mr. Thompson's kidneys, he felt that ethylene glycol (the main chemical in anti-freeze) poisoning could have been the cause of death. However, when he requested toxicology testing, the results were reported as negative for a significant quantity. When the ME found that a previous husband of the deceased's boyfriend had also died and that calcium oxylate crystals were found in Glenn Turner's kidneys, he requested toxicology retest the samples. Retesting resulted in the toxicologist discovering a mathematical error in the first test. Based upon the new testing and after an investigation into the lives of the defendant and Randy Thompson, the ME issued a corrected autopsy report showing the cause of death as ethylene glycol toxicity and the manner of death as a homicide. The medical examiner for Cobb County also re-opened the investigation of Glenn Turner's death and exhumed the body. After having samples tested which also showed ethylene glycol in the body of Officer Turner, and after having investigated the lives of both the defendant and Glenn Turner, the ME re-issued the autopsy report and showed the cause of death as ethylene glycol toxicity and the manner of death as a homicide.
The Defendant had access to both victims just prior to death. Testimony showed that both victims had received food and jell-o from the defendant just prior to death. Ethylene glycol is an odorless, clear, tasteless (except for a slightly sweet taste) liquid. Tests conducted by the medical examiner showed that ethylene glycol 9anti-freeze) is easily disguised in green Jell-o, soup, Gatorade and sweet tea.
The defendant was indicted and charged with the murder of Glenn Turner. The case was moved to Houston County because of pre-trial publicity in Cobb County. Selection of the jury began on April 26th, 2004 and testimony started on April 30th, 2004. The case was completed with closing arguments on May 14th, 2004. The jury began deliberating at 2:45 p.m. returning a verdict of guilty at 7:30 p.m. that night.
TURNER RECEIVED
A SENTENCE OF LIFE
The Supreme
Court of Georgia has affirmed that conviction.
Subsequent to this trial, Turner was also indicted for the murder of Randy Thompson in Forsyth County. The Special Prosecutor, Jack Mallard, filed for the Death Penalty in that case. That case was also moved because of pre-trial publicity. The jury convicted her of Murder for the death of Randy Thompson and sentenced her to Life without Parole. That case is currently on appeal.
PROSECUTORS
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
Pat Head, District
Attorney
Jimmy Berry
Jack Mallard, Sr. Asst District
Attorney
Vic Reynolds
Russ Parker, Sr. Asst. District Attorney
Bryan Lumpkin, Asst. District Attorney