Jose Roberto Turner was the former boyfriend of LaJoya McCoy and the father of her two children. The couple had been in a relationship for nearly a decade and lived together for a significant portion of that time. In the early years, those around them believed the relationship was stable, but it later deteriorated and became marked by conflict and separation.
After McCoy ended the relationship, tensions remained high. Family members and investigators later described a pattern of controlling behavior and ongoing contact that McCoy did not want. In the years before the murder, an incident in which McCoy fled to a relative’s home after an alleged assault reflected the instability of the relationship. Following the breakup, Turner continued to appear in her life, and McCoy told friends she believed he was watching and following her.
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Behavior Leading Up to the Crime
According to investigators, Turner struggled to accept the end of the relationship. Evidence presented later in court suggested he monitored McCoy’s movements and made threatening statements. McCoy documented her concerns about being stalked, and those fears became a central part of the investigation after her disappearance.
Authorities also discovered writings attributed to Turner that revealed anger and hostility toward McCoy. In a notebook recovered during the investigation, he expressed resentment about the breakup and violent thoughts about her. Prosecutors later argued that these writings showed motive and intent in the weeks leading up to the killing.
Arrest and Evidence
After McCoy disappeared in June 2015 and her body was found inside her abandoned car, detectives quickly focused on Turner as a primary suspect. The couple’s history, along with McCoy’s reported fears, directed investigators toward him early in the case.
Forensic evidence became critical. Turner’s DNA was found beneath McCoy’s fingernails and inside her vehicle, indicating a struggle. Investigators also recovered items from McCoy’s apartment in his possession. Combined with the writings that expressed violent intent, the evidence led to his arrest approximately one month after the murder.
Trial and Conviction
During the trial, prosecutors presented the case as a deliberate killing driven by anger and rejection after the relationship ended. They outlined the pattern of stalking behavior, the forensic findings, and the materials recovered from Turner’s vehicle and belongings.
After several hours of deliberation, the jury found Jose Turner guilty of first-degree murder. The verdict reflected the strength of the physical evidence and the prosecution’s argument that the crime had been planned and carried out intentionally.
Where Jose Turner Is Now
Following the guilty verdict, Turner was sentenced to 26 years to life in California state prison. He is currently serving his sentence at North Kern State Prison in Los Angeles County.
He remains incarcerated, and there have been no public reports of a successful appeal or change to his sentence. The conviction brought legal closure to the case, though the impact of the crime continues to affect LaJoya McCoy’s family and children.