Serial killer on death row suspected of fatally strangling 1998 cold case victim in Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY (TCN) -- A 47-year-old man convicted of killing 14 people in California is now accused of fatally strangling and sexually assaulting a woman who was found dead with a scarf around her neck nearly 26 years ago.

According to a probable cause statement, on Sept. 24, 1998, three juveniles flagged down a Salt Lake City Police officer after finding Itisha Camp’s body near a business. In addition to the scarf around her neck, the officer observed Camp’s pants "partially pulled down below her buttocks and her shirt pulled up."

Camp had allegedly been using drugs and working as a prostitute on the night of Sept. 23, 1998. Authorities said she often wore scarfs around her head but not around her neck.

An autopsy later determined Camp died of ligature strangulation, and her death was ruled a homicide. She also suffered an abrasion to her anterior neck, hemorrhages, and other injuries to her face.

According to the probable cause statement, investigators found evidence of sperm on Camp’s pants and back, as well as DNA on her scarf. Using the DNA, authorities identified Chester Turner, a convicted serial killer, as the primary suspect in Camp’s death. Authorities said Turner was on parole from auto theft and drug sale convictions at the time and was in Utah, KTLA-TV reports. Investigators reportedly believe the suspect also sexually assaulted Camp.

On June 14, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced a charge of aggravated murder against Turner, who KTVX-TV says formerly worked as a pizza delivery man.

Turner is currently in custody in the California State Penitentiary on death row. According to the probable cause statement, he has been convicted of 14 murders, "wherein the victims were primarily sex workers and homeless women, including one who was six months pregnant, in South Los Angles, California." Turner also reportedly raped women and often strangled them to death.

In a statement, Gill said, "It must have been profoundly difficult for Ms. Camp’s family and loved ones over the last 25 years, not knowing if the suspect in her murder was still out in the public."

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