In the late summer of 2022, the life of 42-year-old Joshua William-James Blake came to a tragic and violent end in Golden Valley, Arizona. A father and a man described by his loved ones as a hardworking provider, Joshua was last seen alive around August 3, 2022. His family, growing increasingly concerned after not hearing from him, officially reported him as a missing person on August 31st of that year.
The investigation into his disappearance took a grim turn, leading authorities to a
property located at South Sacramento Road and West Geronimo Drive. It was there, on October 26, 2022, that detectives uncovered a shallow grave. The human remains found buried approximately three feet deep were positively identified the following day as those of Joshua Blake. The state of the body was consistent with the timeline of his disappearance, confirming the family's worst fears.
As the Mohave County Sheriff's Office delved deeper into the circumstances surrounding Joshua's death, a dark narrative of betrayal and greed began to emerge. The investigation pointed to two men, Michael Blaine Turner Jr., 31, and Hunter McGuire, 26, as the individuals allegedly responsible for his murder. Authorities believe that both men shot and killed Joshua. Turner, who had been living at Joshua's residence on Kingman Trail, had reportedly been in a dispute with him over unpaid rent and a possible eviction just days before he went missing. Investigators also learned that Joshua had apparently taken the blame for a previous shooting committed by Turner and was threatening to expose him to the police.
Following Joshua's disappearance, Turner's actions grew increasingly suspicious. He was found in possession of a vehicle known to be driven by Joshua and was arrested in it on September 1, 2022, on unrelated charges of being a prohibited possessor of a firearm and drug possession. He also allegedly attempted to fraudulently take possession of Joshua's home by trying to have a bill of sale notarized. On October 28, 2022, while already in custody, Michael Blaine Turner Jr. was charged with the homicide of Joshua William-James Blake. His alleged accomplice, Hunter McGuire, would never face charges in this case. McGuire, who was also a suspect in other homicides, died by suicide following a vehicle pursuit with law enforcement.
