Friday, March 3rd: Pamela Turner waits for her stepson to get off the school bus. When Justin Turner doesn't, the stepmom calls the school.

The staff tells her that Justin was marked absent that day. The sheriff's office is called and deputies come to the Turner home. Justin Turner, 5, has been missing for hours.

The search for Justin Turner includes multiple agencies and volunteers from the area. For two days, WCBD News video cameras follow the searches. Video shows volunteers side-by-side with police and sheriff's deputies, walking nearly shoulder to shoulder through fields, checking under back decks and sheds.

The Channel 2 cameraman is filming as Victor Turner goes into a camper on their property, and quickly comes back out saying, "My son's in there."

The body of Justin Turner is found hidden inside a cabinet in the pickup truck camper, parked close to the family home. An autopsy and forensic analysis are done on the 5-year-old, and investigators determine that the boy had been placed inside the camper shortly after his strangulation death. A forensic pathologist report indicates the boy died a short time after eating his last meal.

The Berkeley County Sheriff at the time, M.C. Cannon says accidental death is ruled out. The coroner's autopsy report reveals the boy was sexually assaulted with some kind of cylindrical object, and strangled to death. The case is officially ruled a homicide.

Joining Nancy Grace Today:

Amy Parsons - Cousin of Justin Turner; FB: Justice for Justin Lee Turner
James Shelnutt – Attorney – The Shelnutt Law Firm, P.C.; 27-year Atlanta Metro Area Major Case Detective and Former S.W.A.T. Officer; X: @ShelnuttLawFirm
Dr. John Delatorre – Licensed Psychologist and Mediator (specializing in forensic psychology); Psychological Consultant to Project Absentis: a nonprofit organization that searches for missing persons; X, IG, and TikTok – @drjohndelatorre
Dr. Kenny Kinsey- Kenny Kinsey & Associates LLC, Forensic Expert in Murdaugh murder trial; Orangeburg County Chief Deputy, Crime Scene Reconstruction Expert, and Former SLED Special Agent; X: @DrKennethKinsey
Dr. Michelle Dupre– Forensic Pathologist and former Medical Examiner, Author: “Homicide Investigation Field Guide” & “Investigating Child Abuse Field Guide”, Ret. Police Detective Lexington County Sheriff’s Department
Nick Reagan - WCSC Journalist and Morning Breaking News Anchor; X Twitter: @NickReagan

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Evil Stepmom Claims Boy, 5, Never Got Off School Bus