Although members of the Turner family were denied the guilty verdict they were hoping for, they have decided to pursue other legal avenues in the country where their youngest member was murdered. The family of Airman First Class Ashley Turner plans to speak to Icelandic authorities about getting the man who was recently acquitted of her murder retried on murder charges, said U.S.
Army 2nd Lt. Jason Turner, Ashley Turner's brother. Ashley Turner, 20, of Frederick, was stationed at the U.
S. Naval Air Station in Keflavik, Iceland as a part of the 56th Rescue Squadron in 2005. She was getting ready to testify against Airman Calvin Hill, then 20, of Warren, Ohio, who was accused of stealing about $2,700 from her after obtaining her PIN number to her bank account.
Ashley Turner was found unresponsive with head and neck wounds in an exercise room on the base on Aug. 14, 2005. She died later that night at a base hospital.
After an investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Hill became the prime suspect. Her blood was found on his shoe, he did not have an alibi and he later admitted to stealing money from her, according to prosecutors. The four-week trial, which should have taken place at the Icelandic base since it was the scene of the crime, was moved to the United States because the Iceland base closed Sept.
30, 2006. It took place at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington from late April to mid-May. The 14-member jury of United States Air Force service members found Hill innocent of premeditated murder and he is now free.
Jason Turner believes the family probably will not be able to pursue federal charges against Hill as initially hoped. They have yet to meet with U.S.
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-6th, due to scheduling conflicts. They also have not found a lawyer yet for a possible civil suit against the Air Force.
Jason Turner said the family has interviewed at least six, but none with expertise in the area they need. The family hopes to speak with Icelandic officials soon on the possibility of trying Hill on any charge, ranging from manslaughter to premeditative murder. He is not sure what will happen when they speak to Icelandic authorities.
"We will go for as much as we can," he said. "I'm 50/50. I'm hopeful but not positive.
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