(WAND) – The family of 38-year-old Dalewayne Turner is speaking publicly following his death, hoping people remember the man they loved rather than the horrific circumstances surrounding the case.
Illinois State Police identified Turner, of Plainfield, as the victim after boaters discovered a severed arm with distinctive tattoos floating in Lake Mattoon on June 28. Investigators later recovered additional human remains and arrested Turner’s wife, 62-year-old Robin Turner, and his half-brother, 26-year-old James Adams. Both have been charged with concealment of a homicide and dismembering a human body, with additional charges expected as the investigation continues.
Turner’s cousin, Chrystal Mann, told WAND News they had no reason to believe he was missing. Mann said one of the hardest parts of the ordeal is that the family never knew Turner was missing.
She said relatives had been told he was in rehabilitation and receiving treatment and that he wanted no contact with family.
“As a family, we were respecting those wishes,” Mann said.
The realization came only after police announced the identities of those arrested.
“I remember being outside watering my flowers, and my phone was being blown up,” Mann said. “When I heard, I thought, ‘Oh, this is crazy. There is no way.’ And I was wrong.”
Like many others, Mann saw the photos Illinois State Police released of the victim’s tattoos before Turner had been identified. She remembered staring at one image for several minutes.
“I stared at it for probably five to 10 minutes and thought, ‘Why do I recognize that?'” she said. “Then in my mind, I thought, ‘Well, no one I know has been reported missing.’ So I said a prayer for whoever it was and their family and went on about my day… not knowing it was my own family.”
She described him as a devoted sports fan who enjoyed UFC fights and had a passion for sports cars. More importantly, she said, he was someone family members could always count on.
“Any time I’ve ever called Dalewayne and I needed him, he was always there,” Mann said. “No matter how big or small, if he could do it, he would do it. And if he couldn’t, he would try.”
Mann said Turner’s character was perhaps best demonstrated years earlier after another devastating family tragedy. She said Turner’s mother was murdered more than a decade ago.
Family said the arrest of Robin and Adams came as a complete shock. Mann told WAND News she never suspected anything was wrong within Turner’s marriage. “To my understanding, they had a good relationship,” she said. “I really didn’t have a bad word I can say myself personally… complete shock.”
She added that the details of the investigation have been difficult to comprehend. “It’s hard to fathom that a person in general could even do that to another human being, let alone someone that you once loved and cared about and that you were currently married to, or it was your brother.”
Mann said the family has been overwhelmed by messages from friends, classmates and strangers offering condolences. She also expressed gratitude to investigators and the public. “We want to thank everyone from the news media, the Illinois State Police, any other officials that were involved with bringing the quick arrest,” she said. “We want to thank everyone for their condolences, their prayers and their kind words.”
For now, the family’s focus is on bringing Turner home and preparing for funeral services. “Our goal now is just to get him home and get the services prepared,” Mann said.
