Salt Lake City, Utah – Authorities in Utah have recently charged Chester Turner with the murder of 22-year-old Itisha Camp in Salt Lake City during the late 1990s. Turner, who was convicted of killing 14 women in Los Angeles in the 1980s and ’90s, has now been linked to another gruesome crime.
After absconding from parole in California, Turner moved to Salt Lake City, where he continued his criminal activities. Camp’s body was discovered in a stairwell by teenagers in 1998. She had been strangled, with evidence suggesting she may have also been sexually assaulted. The case remained unsolved for 25 years until Salt Lake City police cold case investigators diligently uncovered new leads.
DNA evidence collected from a scarf found at the crime scene was uploaded into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), ultimately leading authorities to Turner. It was revealed that Camp had only been in Salt Lake City for a few weeks before her tragic death, engaging in sex work to support herself in the area.
Turner’s criminal history includes being one of five serial killers in South Los Angeles during the height of the crack-cocaine epidemic. Initially suspected in multiple murders, Turner was ultimately the perpetrator in cases where others were wrongly accused and convicted. One man spent over a decade behind bars before DNA evidence cleared his name and pointed to Turner.
The charges against Turner in Camp’s case bring closure to her family and the community, knowing that the individual responsible for her murder is already serving time. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill commended the efforts of law enforcement for their dedication in solving the cold case, bringing justice to Camp and her loved ones after decades of uncertainty.
As the legal process unfolds, more details surrounding Turner’s criminal activities beyond Los Angeles are expected to emerge, shedding light on the extent of his violent behavior and the lives he impacted. The filing of charges in Utah serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough investigations and the pursuit of justice, even after many years have passed.