PAULDING COUNTY, GA — The Paulding County coroner has ordered an inquest into the 2017 death of Heather Turner, nine years after her husband reported finding her dead from a gunshot wound in their bathroom.
Turner was 35 years old when she died. The medical examiner and Paulding County Sheriff’s Office ruled her death a suicide at the time, citing evidence that included forensic testing and a note.
Paulding County Coroner Lindsey Eberhart-Fuller is now ordering an inquest into Turner’s death.
“An inquest begins with a question, not a predetermined answer,” Eberhart-Fuller said.
Eberhart-Fuller said her decision is not about rejecting the conclusions of previous investigations.
“This is not about rejecting anyone’s conclusion or determination,” Eberhart-Fuller said.
She explained that the law only allows a coroner’s inquest after other investigations have been completed.
“I was not entrusted with this office to borrow someone else’s judgement. I was entrusted with it to exercise on my own responsibly,” Eberhart-Fuller said.
A five-person jury, along with one alternate, will be selected to hear evidence beginning in January and determine whether Turner’s death was a suicide, homicide or undetermined.
“For almost a decade, Heather’s name has been surrounded by news coverage, theories, opinions, speculation, and public debate,” Eberhart-Fuller said.
The coroner said the inquest cannot undo Turner’s death but could provide more clarity about what happened.
“I cannot promise closure to Heather’s family, no proceeding can undo her death or restore the years that have passed. What I can promise is clarity,” Eberhart-Fuller said.
WSB Radio’s Veronica Waters contributed to this story.