Execution Report: Carlton Turner

Carlton Akee Turner Jr., 29, was executed by lethal injection on 10 July 2008 in Huntsville, Texas for the murder and robbery of his parents.

On 8 August 1998, Turner, then 19, shot his adoptive parents, Carlton and Tonya Turner, in their home in Irving. After shooting both of them in the head, he moved their bodies into the garage. After the killings, he threw a party at the house for his friends, and he bought clothing and jewelry with the couple's cash and credit cards. He also forged a check from his parents' checkbook and stole some of their jewelry.

Neighbors called police after seeing Turner drive his parents' cars - something they knew he was not allowed to do - and noticing they hadn't seen the couple in several days. Police went to the house and arrested Turner on outstanding traffic warrants. They were led to the bodies by the odor coming from the garage.

At his trial, Turner testified that he shot his father in self-defense, but this position was contradicted by his pre-trial statements in newspaper and television interviews that he had nothing to do with the murders. He offered no explanation at his trial for his mother's murder. He told the jury that it made no difference to him whether he was given a life sentence in prison or sentenced to death.

Turner had previous convictions for automobile theft and aggravated robbery. He also had a juvenile record for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old boy when he was 14.

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