Full Notification

Robyn and Leamon Turnage were found deceased in their residence on Friday, October 22, 2010, bound and strangled to death. By Saturday evening, a suspect had been identified, tracked down, and arrested for the crimes.

The public is being asked if they recognize the suspect and /or his vehicle, and to provide any possible information to detectives about the suspect.

Suspect John Wesley Ewell, (MB/53) was captured after detectives, following an intensive investigation and several leads, observed him using an ATM card that had been taken from the crime scene.

Hawthorne Police Department officers had responded to the Turnage residence in regards to a “check the welfare” call on Friday from out-of-state relatives. The relatives had become concerned when Robyn and Leamon, who had just returned from a trip across the country to witness the birth of their grandchild, had failed to answer several telephone calls. Hawthorne Police officers made entry into the residence and found the victims on the floor inside the ransacked home.

Hawthorne Police detectives, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau detectives, and Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau detectives worked together to investigate this tragic double-homicide and to arrest the suspect. Ewell was taken into custody without incident on Saturday.

Shortly after the victims were discovered, their ATM card was used at a Shell gas station at the 8500 block of W. El Segundo Boulevard, Gardena, by a Black male driving a red car (see photo). Detectives have recovered the car.

The car is described as 1999 Nissan Altima, 4 doors, California license plate. The Nissan Atlima has a rear spoiler and large sunroof. It is red, but has a black primer hood, black front bumper, and black right front fender.

Anyone with information about this crime, the suspect, or the vehicle is encouraged to contact the Homicide Bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department at (323) 890-5500. Or, if you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you can call Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting the letters TIPLA, plus your tip, to CRIMES (274637), or using the web site http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Handling investigators are Sgt. Rubino and Detective Hecht, Sheriff's Homicide Bureau.


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Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

www.lasd.org

Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff