Naman Shrestha
When Catherine Fuller was found dead in late 1984, the entire community was left shell-shocked. As the investigators followed evidence and tips, they were led straight to a gang, which also included Chris Turner. He became one of the multiple men punished for the murder of the woman. However, he has always maintained his innocence, despite spending decades in prison. The episode titled ‘Chris Turner’ of A&E’s ‘Lie Detector: Truth or Deception’ chronicles the investigation of Catherine’s killing, focusing on Chris’ claims of innocence.
Chris Turner Was a Teenager When He Was Convicted of Catherine Fuller’s Murder
Christopher “Chris” Turner attended Coolidge High School and dreamed of joining the Air Force. However, his dreams were hindered by his possible involvement in a homicide. He was one of the several men who were accused of being involved in the murder of Catherine Fuller, who was fatally attacked on October 1, 1984. When the authorities discovered her remains in an alley off of 8th and H Street Northeast in Washington, DC, she had been beaten and sexually assaulted. Upon investigation, the detectives were told that the 8th and H Street Corridor was responsible for the brutal killing of Catherine, including Chris and his brother, Charles Turner.
By the summer of 1985, the Turner brothers were arrested, along with other members of the gang. The police showed up at the door of 17-year-old Chris around 7 am, armed with guns and enough evidence to tie him and his brother to the crime. He reportedly claimed that he was with one of his friends, Kelvin Smith, but couldn’t remember the details of what they were doing. Chris was offered a plea deal, which allowed him to receive a two-to-six-year imprisonment sentence in exchange for testifying for the government.
However, he refused to take the deal as he continued to claim his innocence. Thus, in 1985, he stood trial with several other accused. The prosecution built its entire case through the confessions of two teenagers and their story about Catherine Fuller’s murder, as they didn’t have any physical evidence to tie the defendants to the killing. Several weeks later, eight of the men were found guilty of first-degree murder, including Chris and Charles Turner, Kelvin Smith, Levy Rouse, Clifton Yarborough, Steven Webb, Timothy Catlett, and Russell Overton. They received a combined sentence of 258 years in prison. As per reports, Chris also became a father to a son, Chris Elliott.
Chris Turner Advocates For the Wrongfully Incarcerated Today
After serving more than 25 years behind bars, Christopher Turner finally became eligible for parole and was released in 2010. After his release, he continued to maintain his innocence. At some point, he also lost his job at the military base after the supervisors learned about his murder conviction. In November 2024, he told Fox 5 DC, “With the pardon, we get a chance to fix all that and bring a closure to this case once and for all.” He also added, “People get upset more that we’re not bitter. We think if you remain bitter, remain upset about what occurred – even though it was an atrocity and it was injustice – that you stay locked up mentally.”
The following month, in December, he and the other convicted individuals petitioned then-President Biden to pardon them, pleading for clemency. Chris told WAMU, “It would give us justice. It would give us closure.” While his brother, Charles, stated, “If he (Biden) believes that we are innocent, most of the rest of the world would have to join in with him.” Emphasizing how the murder conviction still has a hold on him, Chris added, “It still affects my value in society. That is still a stain on our records…We hope it will be removed one day. We will fight until it is.” As of today, Chris continues to reside in Washington, DC, where he is employed at the Duke Ellington School for the Arts.
Besides that, he is also involved with several nonprofit organizations that work towards helping the wrongfully accused reenter society after incarceration. Over the years, he has also given lectures at several colleges, universities, and police academies about his experience of being wrongfully convicted of murder and spending decades behind bars. The Board Chair of Free Minds Book Club and a Board Member of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, Chris was awarded the Greater Washington Urban League’s Community Impact Award in 2024.
Read More: Tim Masters: Where is the Wrongfully Accused Today?
