Steph54
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At 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 1974, the body of 26-year-old Robert Jack Turchun was discovered in the trunk of his 1970 Plymouth. A CHP officer noticed the car parked several feet from the curb on Second Street, between Juarez and Silverado Trail, near downtown Napa. When the officer approached the car, he noticed blood on the rear bumper near the trunk. The officer found the keys in the ignition and opened the trunk where he found the victim naked and stabbed nearly a dozen times in the chest and abdomen. Police found the victims clothing neatly folded on the front seat, his glasses atop the pile.
Police recovered physical evidence from the vehicle but no weapon. A robbery motive was ruled out as the victims wallet containing $30 remained in his pants pocket. Police theorized Turchun had been stabbed while naked as his clothing did not contain any holes. Police determined the murder had not occurred at the location, in the vehicle or in the victims apartment. Unable to determine a motive for the slaying, a detective publically ruled the murder a crime of passion committed by someone who held a vengeful anger toward the victim.
An autopsy revealed the victim had attempted to fight his attacker, as evidenced by the numerous defensive wounds on his arms and hands. The coroner estimated the victim had been dead three days and bled out from his wounds prior to placement in the trunk.
Turchuns girlfriend reported him missing to police on Wednesday, October 23. During the investigation, she told police that she last saw the victim the afternoon of Sunday, October 20, washing his car in front of his apartment, located at 2579 Laurel Street, Napa. She said they had argued. Three hours later she saw his car parked in front of Hunter Electronics, 3148 Jefferson Street, where he worked as a television repairman.
Detectives publically disclosed that the victim worked irregular hours. According to Turchuns employer, he did not report to his job the week of October 21.
Friends and coworkers described Turchun as a real straight character who never drank much, never used drugs. Originally from New Jersey, Turchun had lived in Napa two years.
The case remains an unsolved homicide.
Police recovered physical evidence from the vehicle but no weapon. A robbery motive was ruled out as the victims wallet containing $30 remained in his pants pocket. Police theorized Turchun had been stabbed while naked as his clothing did not contain any holes. Police determined the murder had not occurred at the location, in the vehicle or in the victims apartment. Unable to determine a motive for the slaying, a detective publically ruled the murder a crime of passion committed by someone who held a vengeful anger toward the victim.
An autopsy revealed the victim had attempted to fight his attacker, as evidenced by the numerous defensive wounds on his arms and hands. The coroner estimated the victim had been dead three days and bled out from his wounds prior to placement in the trunk.
Turchuns girlfriend reported him missing to police on Wednesday, October 23. During the investigation, she told police that she last saw the victim the afternoon of Sunday, October 20, washing his car in front of his apartment, located at 2579 Laurel Street, Napa. She said they had argued. Three hours later she saw his car parked in front of Hunter Electronics, 3148 Jefferson Street, where he worked as a television repairman.
Detectives publically disclosed that the victim worked irregular hours. According to Turchuns employer, he did not report to his job the week of October 21.
Friends and coworkers described Turchun as a real straight character who never drank much, never used drugs. Originally from New Jersey, Turchun had lived in Napa two years.
The case remains an unsolved homicide.
