Man allegedly strangled girlfriend to death in her Texarkana home | Travis Turner faces previous assault charges

Travis Alston Turner
Travis Alston Turner

 

TEXARKANA, Texas -A man accused of murder in the death of his girlfriend last week allegedly strangled her to death on the living room couch, according to records.

The body of 29-year-old Jennifer Garrett was allegedly five feet from the front door when two friends went to check on her when she failed to come to work Aug. 12, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Travis Alston Turner, 27, allegedly cracked open the door and told Garrett's friends she hadn't been home since the night before despite her car being parked at the residence.

The friends reportedly parked nearby and waited until Turner left in a black BMW before making entry into the residence in the 6200 block of Summerhill Place.

Police were called when Garrett was discovered deceased on the couch.

Turner returned to the residence while police were on scene and was taken into custody. He allegedly refused an interview with investigators and was charged with murder.

Garrett's body showed signs of strangulation, including broken blood vessels in her eyes.

"Petichiae are small ruptured blood vessels in the eyes caused by restricted air flow," the affidavit states. "Often petichiae are present when a person is strangled."

Crime scene investigators observed a scratch on Garrett's right jaw and blood in her right nostril. Also noted was bruising on both sides of her chest between her neck and breasts. Such bruising could be caused by someone sitting on top of another person. Investigators estimated she had been dead between four and 12 hours.

Turner's arrest for murder Aug. 12 is not his first this year.

Turner is currently facing a charge of battery and two counts of terroristic acts in Miller County, Arkansas. Turner allegedly shot at a house, injuring one, Feb. 26, according to court records. He was released from the Miller County jail March 4 after posting a $50,000 bond.

Turner was charged with a misdemeanor family violence assault July 25 in Bowie County. The assault allegedly involved an immediate family member. Turner was released from the Bowie County jail after posting a $5,000 bond on July 27, a little more than two weeks before he allegedly strangled Garrett to death.

Turner faces up to a year in the Bowie County jail if convicted of the misdemeanor family violence assault. If found guilty of battery in Miller County, Turner faces up to six years in prison. If convicted of terroristic acts, Turner faces five to 20 years on each of two counts.

If found guilty of murder in Garrett's death, Turner faces five to 99 years or life in a Texas prison. He is currently being held in the Bowie County jail with bail set at $3 million.

 

 

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