Crime Solvers Central
CSC
251 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
James Douglas Turner, aged 20, went missing on March 2, 1987, in Portland, Oregon. Two individuals were convicted of his death in 1990, though his body has never been found. It is believed that his remains were disposed of in Clark County, Washington, shortly after his disappearance. Despite the convictions, the exact details of the case remain unclear, including what led authorities to these conclusions without the recovery of Turner's body.

Turner's case remains open, with investigato ...Read More
Last Seen: Mar 02, 1987

Victim Details

Nov 05, 2013

Jan 12, 2024

James

Turner

58

20

68 inches

72 inches

130 lbs

Black / African American

Male

In the late winter of 1987, a young man named James Douglas Turner, just 21 years old, vanished from Portland, Oregon. He was last seen on March 2nd of that year, a day that would mark the beginning of a long and painful chapter for his loved ones. Turner was a Black / African American male, standing between 5'8" and 6'0" tall, with a slight build, weighing around 130 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes. The report of his disappearance was filed with the Portland Police Bureau a couple of weeks later, on March 16, 1987, under case number 87-27650. The initial circumstances surrounding James Turner's disappearance were shrouded in mystery, leaving his family and investigators with few leads. However, the case took a significant turn three years later, in 1990, when two individuals were convicted in connection with his death. This development, while providing a semblance of justice, did not bring complete closure, as James's remains were never recovered. The painful truth that emerged was that his body was reportedly disposed of in Clark County back in 1987, the same year he went missing. The identities of the convicted individuals and the specific details of the case against them are not widely available in public records. Decades have passed since James Douglas Turner was last seen, yet his case remains a poignant and unresolved story. Despite the convictions, the full story of what happened to him and the final resting place of his remains are still unknown. The passage of time has not diminished the hope for answers. The case serves as a somber reminder of a young life cut short and the enduring quest for truth and resolution that continues for his family and the community. The investigation into his disappearance is a testament to the complexities and heartaches that define many missing person cases, where legal conclusions may be reached, but the fundamental human need for closure remains unmet.

Mar 02, 1987

Portland

Oregon

Multnomah County

No

14484

Portland Police Bureau

Portland

Oregon

Multnomah County

97204

Heidi Helwig

Detective

1111 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Oregon

5038230400

Local

Law Enforcement

87-27650

1987-03-16

Portland Police Bureau

Black

Brown

Brown

05/25/2026


Area Last Seen: