Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office went to a house on the 16000 block of Colwood Drive, close to Tampa, last week to check on the welfare of Joanne Turrell, 78.
Turrell was covered with a blanket and dead when deputies arrived. Douglas Turrell, her 53-year-old adult son who also resides in the house, was found in a locked bedroom next to a gun.
Detectives discovered throughout the inquiry that Joanne Turrell had been fatally wounded by a bullet. Douglas Turrell has been taken into custody by detectives and is accused of second-degree murder.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said, “Our hearts break for the friends and family of this woman whose life was not only tragically ended but done so at the hands of her son.” It was Joanne Turrell’s 78th birthday celebration.
A period that ought to have been happy and full of treasured recollections. Rather, we are currently attempting to reconstruct the events that led to such a tragic conclusion.
Local law enforcement reports that this homicide is still under investigation.
