Johnny Curtis Turnpaugh, 24 [SUSPECT ARRESTED] 07/14/09 Bloomington, IL

[Grande]

Coroner identifies man's body found in area mobile home park
Story Discussion By Pantagraph staff | Posted: Saturday, July 18, 2009 12:00 am | (98) Comments

BLOOMINGTON -- A body found Tuesday in a mobile home park has been identified as that of a rural Bloomington man, but his death, termed "non-natural" by the coroner, remains under investigation.

McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling said Friday that dental records assisted in making the identification of Johnny Curtis Turnpaugh, 24, who last resided in rural Bloomington.

Turnpaugh's badly decomposed body was found in a mobile home at 321 Hibiscus Street south of Bloomington. Turnpaugh had been dead at least several days, according to initial reports.

The coroner said her office and the McLean County Sheriff's Department continue to investigate the death.

A maintenance worker at The Meadows of Bloomington mobile home park found Turnpaugh's body after residents noticed a foul odor coming from the area. The mobile home was reportedly vacant.

Relatives of the deceased man described him as very family-oriented, the last one to leave gatherings and a fan of motocross racing, according to a statement from the coroner.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_813c0cf6-7323-11de-8c51-001cc4c03286.html

[Grande]

Coroner: 'Suspicious' death caused by traumatic means
Story Discussion By Ryan Denham | rdenham@pantagraph.com | Posted: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 12:00 am | (11) Comments

BLOOMINGTON -- The death of a 24-year-old rural Bloomington man found in a mobile home is "suspicious in nature" and the result of traumatic means, the McLean County coroner said Monday.

But a more detailed description of Johnny Turnpaugh's cause of death was not available, said Coroner Beth Kimmerling.

Sheriff Mike Emery said Monday that police have identified some individuals they are interested in speaking with about Turnpaugh's death, which Kimmerling had earlier described as "non-natural."

Emery said there have been no arrests and that police expected to release more information Tuesday or Wednesday.

"We just need some time to work through all this," Emery said.

Emery said almost 100 pieces of physical evidence have been sent to the state crime lab for testing. Emery declined to describe those items.

Those with information about Turnpaugh's death are asked to contact Detective Joe Zoeller at (309) 261-6562 or Crime Stoppers at (309) 828-1111.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_3d667c92-757f-11de-be11-001cc4c03286.html

[Grande]

Friends, family gather at vigil for slain 24-year-old
Story By Sharon K. Wolfe | swolfe@pantagraph.com | Posted: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 12:00 am | (69) Comments

BLOOMINGTON -- Singing "Amazing Grace" amid a soft sprinkle of rain and the glow of more than 50 candles, family and friends gathered Tuesday evening at Miller Park to remember a man who was found dead last week in a mobile home.

Authorities continued on Tuesday to investigate the traumatic death of Johnny Turnpaugh, 24, which authorities have called "suspicious in nature."

"Even though Johnny's gone, he will never be forgotten," said Joseph Fletcher, who led the brief memorial near the park's lake.

"Celebrate; don't cry," he told the crowd as some smiled through their tears.

"I know you all loved him. Thank you so much," said his mother, Cheryl Keith of Chatsworth.

A picnic table held pictures, newspaper clippings, a poem and candles. The vigil lasted a few minutes, but people talked quietly for close to an hour before it began.

Turnpaugh, who lived previously with foster parents from a young age, stayed off and on with his mother and stepfather.

"It's really hard to go to his room," said Cheryl Keith, adding some of his belongings remain there.

Nicknamed 'Turtle'

A friend, Justin Leathers of Normal, recalled how Turnpaugh earned the nickname "Turtle" for "shooting turtle-looking dudes" years ago in a Mario Brothers video game.

"We have a little old dog that just loves him to death," said his stepfather, Thomas Keith. The Pomeranian keeps expecting to see him again when someone comes to the door, he said.

"A loss like this is just devastating to us," said Thomas Keith.

A memorial fund has been established for Turnpaugh at First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust, said Turnpaugh's sister-in-law, Brandi Turnpaugh. Donations can be made at any First Mid-Illinois Bank location, and the money will be used for funeral costs, she said.

Investigation update

Meanwhile, McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery said investigators conducted more interviews Tuesday and have made Turnpaugh's death a top-priority case.

There have been no arrests. Coroner Beth Kimmerling said his death was the result of some kind of trauma. But authorities have declined to release his cause of death, saying it would jeopardize the investigation.

Turnpaugh was reported missing July 8. His body was found July 14 in a mobile home park south of Bloomington. He was in the process of buying the trailer but was not apparently living there.

Turnpaugh's van was found in north Normal after he was reported missing but before the discovery of his death, Emery said. He declined to release details about the condition of the van or where exactly it was found.

Emery said Tuesday that investigators have no reason to believe anyone else inside the mobile home park was at risk in connection with Turnpaugh's death.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_c1a41a4a-7643-11de-a88c-001cc4c002e0.html

[Grande]

Tests should help reveal cause of death for man found in mobile home
Story Discussion By Edith Brady-Lunny | eblunny@pantagraph.com
Posted: Sunday, August 16, 2009 8:25 pm |

BLOOMINGTON -- Investigators looking into the death of a 24-year-old rural Bloomington man may be closer to having some answers after test results are returned from the state crime lab in the coming weeks.

Johnny Turnpaugh was found July 14 in a mobile home in The Meadows of Bloomington mobile home park. He had been dead for several days.

McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling has described his death as "suspicious in nature" and being caused by traumatic means.

Few details have been released in the weeks since Turnbaugh's death. Sheriff Mike Emery said police have identified several individuals they want to talk in the case, but no arrests have been made.

Assistant State's Attorney Bill Workman told The Pantagraph on Friday that evidence sent to the state crime lab is expected within the next several weeks.

"We are waiting for the crime lab to examine evidence from the scene and the victim's car," said Workman.

Anyone with information about Turnpaugh's death is asked to contact Detective Joe Zoeller at (309) 261-6562 or Crime Stoppers at (309) 828-1111.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_c4480182-8acd-11de-8a08-001cc4c002e0.html

[packy]

Hope they are on the right track and some of those people they want to talk to will be able to help find who was responsible for his death.