Kristi Marie Spurlock, a 30-year-old female, was tragically killed on Wednesday, January 11, 2017, in Springfield, Missouri. Her death was the result of gun violence, a loss that was described as both quick and unnecessary by her grieving family. Known as a loving and giving person who was cherished by many, Kristi was a graduate of Ozark High School.
The circumstances leading to the discovery of her death began to unfold when her mother, Elizabeth Spurlock, grew concerned after being
unable to reach her daughter throughout the day. When she finally managed to get through on the phone, she spoke to Kristi's boyfriend, Shawn Aaron Turner. In a harrowing admission, Turner told her he was sorry and that he had killed Kristi before disconnecting the call. Elizabeth immediately alerted 911 and rushed to her daughter's residence.
Upon their arrival, Springfield police officers established a perimeter around the home. Shortly after, Shawn Turner, then 39, exited the house and was taken into custody. He was found to have what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Inside the residence, officers discovered Kristi Spurlock deceased on a bedroom floor, along with a handgun.
Following the initial investigation, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson announced that Shawn Aaron Turner had been charged with second-degree murder in connection with Kristi's death. The probable cause statement revealed that Turner had a history of violent crime, with prior felony convictions in Texas for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault of a public servant. After allegedly shooting his girlfriend multiple times, it is believed he turned the gun on himself. When questioned by authorities, Turner claimed to have 'blanked out' and was unsure how long Kristi had been deceased.
