Shivangi Sinha
In August 2021, Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner were reported missing in Moab, Utah. The couple had been camping in their trailer with their pet rabbit, enjoying a free-spirited lifestyle that brought them joy and fulfillment. Their bodies were later discovered in a creek near their campsite, and both had been shot multiple times. As investigators dug deeper, they learned the couple had expressed concern about a suspicious individual days before their disappearance. Paramount+’s ‘Murder 360: Murder in the Moab’ explores the investigation and the eventual identification of their killer.
Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner’s Remains Were Found in a Creek Near Their Campsite
Kylen Carrol Schulte was born to Sean-Paul and Valerie Schulte on September 5, 1996. For most of her life, she had lived in Billings, Montana, with her mother and her brother, Mackeon Daniel Schulte. She was allegedly in an abusive relationship, and in 2013, she gave birth to baby Blayke, but the baby did not survive. In 2015, her brother, Mackeon, was killed after he was shot by a friend through a window. The friend had mistaken him for an intruder and fired the gun, taking his life. Kylen was shaken by the event, and since her mother had troubles of her own, she moved to Moab, Utah, to be closer to her father. She was finally able to find balance in life when she met Crystal Michelle Turner.
Crystal was born on December 30, 1982, to Obie and Beverly Turner. Her childhood was filled with the warmth of a large and loving family. She had four brothers, Greg and Randy Monte, Christopher Turner, and Cody Turner, and as their only sister, she was cherished and adored. Originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas, Crystal built a life for herself and was a devoted mother to three children, son Isaac Beck and daughters Olivia Beck and Savannah Beck, whom she shared with her ex-husband. Much like Kylen, Crystal had a deep love for the outdoors and moved to Moab in 2017 to explore the area’s many scenic trails. Having lost her father and three brothers, she felt she needed something new in life. It was there, in 2019, that she met Kylen, and the two quickly fell in love.
On April 20, 2021, Kylen and Crystal were married and began their life together. Kylen started working at the Moonflower Market Cooperative while Crystal was a manager at the local McDonald’s. They valued their freedom and lived simply, placing little importance on material possessions. They often took their trailer to camp in the La Sal Mountains, accompanied by their pet rabbit, Ruth. On August 18, 2021, Kylen’s father, Sean-Paul, was contacted by a friend after being informed by Kylen’s workplace that she hadn’t shown up. They also noted that Crystal had missed two of her shifts. The friend went to search for them in the mountains and discovered Kylen’s body in a creek near their campsite. Police were called and later found Crystal’s body just a few yards away. Both women had been shot five times, and their deaths were determined to have occurred on August 14, 2021.
The Suspect of the Double Murder Fled the City Days After the Killings
Due to the remote location of the crime scene and the lack of witnesses, police faced significant challenges in gathering leads. They believed they were already several days behind, and the isolation of the area only added to the difficulty. Investigators began interviewing the couple’s family and friends to better understand their lives and last known movements. Kylen and Crystal were last seen on the night of August 13 at Woody’s Tavern, where they had gone for drinks. That night, they mentioned a “creeper dude” who had parked uncomfortably close to their campsite. Although their friends expressed concern, the couple assured them they could handle the situation.
Police also learned about a man named Adam Pinkusiewicz, who worked with Crystal and had exhibited aggressive behavior. Although it’s unclear whether the two ever directly interacted, Adam had previously threatened violence against another employee. On one occasion, he reportedly became upset after seeing Crystal prepare a sandwich for herself and Kylen. He, too, lived out of a trailer, and further investigation revealed he was the same individual who had been camping near the couple. At the time, most employees wore face masks, so it’s possible Crystal didn’t recognize him from work.
Police attempted to locate Adam and uncovered several pieces of evidence linking him to the case. He owned a black 2007 Toyota Yaris, which had been spotted traveling along the highway multiple times in the days following the women’s deaths. Despite tracking various addresses, investigators couldn’t find him. Alarm bells rang when they discovered he hadn’t collected his final paycheck and had abruptly disappeared on August 24 without informing anyone. Authorities eventually traced a phone number linked to his alleged partner. When contacted, the man on the line claimed that Adam had confessed to the murders. He had allegedly stated that he found one of the women “bossy,” disliked her, and killed her because of it.
Adam Pinkusiewicz Took His Own Life a Month After the Incident
In March 2022, police discovered that Adam Pinkusiewicz had died by suicide on September 24, 2021, just over a month after the murders. His body was found in a motel, and the official cause of death was ruled as suicide. Investigators also located his black 2007 Toyota Yaris, but it had been professionally detailed twice, leaving no physical evidence behind. A 2019 receipt was uncovered showing he had purchased a Glock 19 9mm handgun, one of the two weapon types believed to have been used in the murders. Phone records revealed he had been experiencing disturbing thoughts and frequently wrote about harming and killing others.
There was considerable speculation surrounding the case, especially since Adam could not be linked to the crime scene through any physical evidence. On August 12, 2021, just two days before the murders, police had also stopped Brian Laundrie after a 911 caller reported seeing him allegedly slapping Gabby Petito. Since the incident occurred outside the Moonflower Community Cooperative, where Kylen worked, many believed she might have been the one to place the 911 call. This fueled theories that Brian may have tracked her down and killed both Kylen and Crystal as a result. However, authorities thoroughly investigated the possibility and ultimately ruled out any connection between the two cases. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office officially closed the case in December 2022 and named Adam as the sole suspect. Still, police have stated that the case could be reopened should new evidence come to light.
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