Turpin/Courtesy CBS
The remains of Lysandra Marie Turpin who went reported missing in 1988 have been found after a man who witnessed her murder as a teenager, contacted Northern California law enforcement, 22 years after the crime.
In April of 1988, 27-year-old Lysandra Marie Turpin was reported missing in Humboldt County. She was never found and officials have had few clues, until this year. In February, a 38-year-old North Carolina man called the Humboldt County Sheriff’s office and said when he was 16-years-old, he witnessed his father kill Turpin.
the ditch/courtesy CBS
The man told deputies his father, Ernest Samuel Christie Jr., kidnapped Turpin, held her hostage in their home in Fieldbrook, and then killed her after weeks of abuse. The man said his father forced him to help him dispose of Turpin’s body in a ditch, cover it with tires and set it on fire. Deputies went to the area and found teeth, clothing and charred bones. On Wednesday, forensic scientists positively identified the remains as Turpin. Christie, Jr. died in June of 2006.
the tree stump/courtesy CBS
Christie’s son also told deputies about other crimes committed by his father. He said Christie had once held a woman prisoner inside a large Redwood tree stump but she had escaped. Christie’s son was also able to lead deputies to that location where they found a carpet, plastic jugs, syringes and clothing inside the stump after using a chainsaw to get inside. The victim in the case has since passed away.
Christie’s son, Ernest Samuel Christie, III is not facing any charges. Read the article here.
