Joseph Donald Ture Jr.: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Early Life
Joseph Donald Ture Jr. was born on February 7, 1951, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His early life was marked by instability; his parents divorced when he was 10, leading to his father's custody. However, Ture spent much of his youth in an orphanage and a reformatory. At around 18, he briefly joined the U.S. Marine Corps but returned to St. Paul after approximately six months. He held various low-skilled jobs, often struggling financially and at times living out of his car.
Confirmed Victims
- Alice Huling (36): December 15, 1978, Clearwater, Minnesota
- Susan Huling (16): December 15, 1978, Clearwater, Minnesota
- Wayne Huling (13): December 15, 1978, Clearwater, Minnesota
- Patti Huling (12): December 15, 1978, Clearwater, Minnesota
- Marlys Ann Wohlenhaus (19): May 8, 1979, Afton, Minnesota
- Diane Edwards (19): September 26, 1980, West St. Paul, Minnesota
Details of the Crimes
December 15, 1978: The Huling Family Murders
In the early hours, Ture entered the Clearwater home of Alice Huling. He fatally shot Alice before proceeding to her children's bedrooms. There, he bound and shot her children: Susan (16), Wayne (13), and Patti (12). A fourth child, 11-year-old William "Billy" Huling, survived the attack. Ture was arrested four days later for auto theft but was not immediately linked to the murders.
May 8, 1979: Murder of Marlys Ann Wohlenhaus
Marlys, a 19-year-old student, returned to her Afton home after school. Ture had broken in and awaited her arrival. He attacked and sexually assaulted Marlys before bludgeoning her to death with a blunt instrument. Her mother discovered her body later that day.
September 26, 1980: Abduction and Murder of Diane Edwards
Diane, a 19-year-old University of Minnesota student, was walking home from her waitressing job at a Perkins Restaurant in West St. Paul when Ture abducted her. He took her to nearby woods, where he sexually assaulted and stabbed her to death. Her body was found near Elk River on October 3, 1980.
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