In January 2019, the life of 27-year-old Christopher Turner of Hagerstown, Maryland, was tragically cut short. Turner, a father of two with a third child on the way, was last heard from by his family on Sunday, January 20th. His family grew concerned when he uncharacteristically dropped off the grid, as he was known to be in daily contact with them.
A missing person report was filed with the Hagerstown Police Department on January 23rd.
The investigation into his disappearance took a grim turn when Turner's car was discovered on January 24th in the west end of Hagerstown. Family members noted that the vehicle was found unusually clean with the tags missing, which they found suspicious. The search for Turner concluded on January 30th when his body was found in a remote area of Berkeley County, West Virginia. The condition in which his body was discovered led investigators to immediately suspect homicide. An autopsy was ordered to determine the cause of death.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies across several states, quickly led to the identification of three suspects. On February 17, 2019, arrests were made in connection with Turner's death. Antonio Cane Arana, 19, of Jefferson, Maryland, was taken into custody in Frederick, Maryland. Dakota Daniel Paugh, 19, of Hagerstown, was arrested in Washington, D.C., and 21-year-old Erica Shatiena Earl, also of Hagerstown, was apprehended in Jacksonville, Florida.
All three individuals were charged with first and second-degree murder, first and second-degree assault, armed robbery, robbery, and numerous firearm violations. Following their arrests, Arana was held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center, while Paugh and Earl awaited extradition. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Christopher Turner's death was reported to be ongoing.
