Murder-suicide in Morgan Co.
Brother kills sister, then takes his own lifeBy Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com
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DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP - Fires, explosions and what investigators say may have been gunshots disrupted the placid back country north of Malta Tuesday night as a Morgan County man allegedly killed his sister, set fire to her house, then ignited a blaze at his own home before killing himself.
"He was a disabled veteran," Morgan County Sheriff Thomas Jenkins said of Charles Turner, 61, 7870 Brown Lane in Deerfield Township.
Turner was reportedly having legal and/or financial issues with his sister, Rosemary Brown, 55, who lived at 7200 Frash Road, approximately 1,100 yards from Turner's home, according to a sheriff's office press release.
Investigators said it appeared that Turner went to Brown's home and an altercation occurred during which Brown was killed. Turner then set fire to her house and car.
Afterward, Turner returned to his home, where he apparently cut trees to block the driveway, ignited fires in his mobile home, truck and Jeep SUV, and then took his own life.
A portion of Turner's lengthy driveway was still littered Wednesday afternoon with pieces of tree trunks firefighters had to remove to reach his burning home the night before.
On the hillside above the driveway, smoke continued to rise from what remained of Turner's home.
"He blocked the drive off pretty well," Jenkins said as he continued an on-site investigation Wednesday.
On Frash Road, yellow crime scene tape blocked the entrance to Brown's driveway.
"That site is still pretty hot, and we were afraid that someone might get hurt," Jenkins said. "But we're also still investigating."
He said evidence had been collected from both sites and as of Wednesday afternoon investigators were waiting for preliminary autopsy results.
Shane Cartmill, public information officer with the Ohio Fire Marshal's Office, said in a press release that the Morgan and Licking County coroners are conducting the autopsies.
Cartmill added that although the fire marshal's office has not released specific details about how the fires were started, "based on evidence and circumstances, investigators were able to determine the fires were intentionally set" and the incident had been ruled as arson.
He said a neighbor reported the fires. The sheriff's release said the first calls came in around 10:45 p.m. Tuesday.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification and the McConnelsville and Malta Volunteer Fire Department also assisted Jenkins' office during the incident.
Brown's death is the second homicide in Morgan County in a little more than a month and the third in a year.
On June 2, sheriff's deputies discovered the body of Abi S. Matthews, 35, at her Third Street Malta apartment. They arrested 17-year-old Travis Lee Fischer, of McConnelsville, who was a friend of the family, and charged him with aggravated murder.
In September, Rodney Spencer, 49, was discovered dead in his Plum Street home in McConnelsville after a fire that was later ruled as arson. That case remains under investigation.
It's also the second murder-suicide in the region this year.
On Feb. 18, Noble County authorities found that Ted Bayly, 39, had killed his wife, Janice, 40, and 11-year-old son, Colton, then himself. It was believed money problems led to the killings.
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smarttee1
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07-11-09 4:28 PM
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If you have unresolved issues that make you unhappy or you are financially stressed out, PLEASE tell someone that tells you they love you. Get help, talk about your feelings. DO NOT TRY AND TAKE ON ISSUES ALONE. Everyone needs someone no matter who they are or how they believe. Pay attention also to the "disabled veterans", in your life that you know and the ones that say the world is going to*****and not going to get any better. That is technically a "TAKEAWAY." DO NOT take that type of talk lighthearted. This is my dad and everyone who knew him knew he felt that way. There is no liability for anyone to assume. Uncle Gene, you nor I could have predicted these events from occurring, you have to find peace in the lord. DO NOT HAVE "only if's."
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smarttee1
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07-11-09 4:16 PM
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Murder - suicide I am the daughter of the infamous Charles Turner and the niece of the alleged "victim" my aunt Rosemary. May peace be with all involved. I pray for their souls. Heed the warning signs of your loved ones, and know if they don't talk about their plans, there is nothing you COULD HAVE DONE to have a different outcome. Some issues stay in families for years. NO ONE knew my Father on an intimate level as well as his wife, my mother, and I did, or do. I love both VICTIMS involved!
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alchemy
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07-10-09 10:44 AM
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He appeared to want to destroy anything people would take.
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norwoodchick
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07-09-09 4:08 PM
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i agree disabled veteran had nothing to do with this article...how disabled could he be if he is cutting down trees to block his own drive way?? I am sure there is way more to this story that we will ever know.........but the "shock value" is all we will ever see in print.
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pcsmith
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07-09-09 3:52 PM
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"He was a 'disabled Veteran.' " It was OK for the Honorable Sheriff to say it, but the quote need not have been printed as it had no true relevance to the story. He was a (older) white guy, married(?), stressed-out, southeastern Ohio Appalachian-American with financial problems, etcetera, etcetera, ad infinitum. Do not those characteristics likewise apply to other suspected murder-suicides and majority of personna capital crimes committed these days? I too - along with many people I know - am a "Disabled Veteran." Does that make me and my comrades any more a potential threat to society, friends, & family than the next person?
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peppie
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07-09-09 11:20 AM
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It sure seems this area is opening up to alot of murders and drug problems in the past year.
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Marlins55
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07-09-09 9:39 AM
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...good thing the paper's waiting until the investigation is over!! Guilty 'til proven innocent!! "It's also the second murder-suicide in the region this year."
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