20 years later, detectives still searching for who killed Shannon Turner
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Shannon Turner moved to Indianapolis in 1997. The carefree Wisconsin native rented a home on the 300 block of Hamilton Avenue. She had a dog, friends, and a boyfriend named David Mays. The 33-year-old settled in pretty quickly into her new home.
At night, Turner danced at Babes, a strip club located along W. 38th St. On the evening of Dec. 4, 1997, Turner finished her shift at Babes.
As she walked out the door that night, it would be the last known public appearance of Turner. Earlier that year, Turner informed her family back in Wisconsin that she would be home for Christmas.
Several weeks passed, and Christmas came and went. Turner pulled a “no-call, no-show” in Wisconsin.
“We hadn’t heard from her but it wasn’t unusual that she would change plans or she didn’t have the money,” said Greg Turner, the brother of Shannon Turner.
A couple of weeks later, Shannon’s landlord called her family back in Wisconsin and informed them Shannon hasn’t been seen in weeks. The landlord also told the family Shannon’s dog had been left outside unattended for days.
The family knew something was wrong. Turner’s sister filed a missing persons report. Flyers were posted on light posts around town as detectives launched an investigation.
Days turned into months and no new information.
Police did take a closer look at Shannon’s relationship with David Mays. In early November, the two were engaged; however, by mid-November Shannon called the engagement off. A couple of weeks later, Shannon disappeared.
24-Hour News 8 documented during the earlier stages of the investigation that Mays belonged to a notorious gang called the Outlaws. Investigators say Mays worked as the gang’s enforcer. In 2015, the gang’s headquarters were demolished.
“This is a historic day,” said Rick Hite, former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department chief as he stood on the demolition site of the Outlaws building in 2015.
According to IMPD, witnesses came forward and told police Mays killed Shannon. Mays denied it. Federal charges were brought against Mays for Shannon’s murder. Mays would be acquitted after investigators failed to produce a body or any concrete evidence.
Mays later served time in federal prison for racketeering charges.
Greg Turner says he is not giving up in his sister’s case.
“I’m not going to walk away. My sister is not just going to be some freebie, you don’t get to kill her and throw her away like trash,” said Turner.
Detectives are still actively taking tips in Shannon’s case. If you have any information call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS (8477).
