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Foul play fears

Family, friends and authorities concerned about missing trucker

William Lynn Turner (left), with his friend, Michael Bryant. Turner spoke to his boss by phone April 8, and hasn’t been heard from since.

By Richard Gould | Hickory Daily Record

Published: April 22, 2009

LENOIR - It's been 15 days since Angel Bowen last saw her brother, William Lynn Turner. On April 15, she filed a missing person's report with the Lenoir Police Department.

She said she has reason to believe foul play is involved.

"There are things about this investigation that do cause us concern," said Lenoir police Lt. Brent Phelps. "We're extremely concerned about his safety and whereabouts."

Turner, 35, of Lenoir, is known to his friends as Glen and to his fellow truck drivers as "Pistol Grip," Bowen said. He works for a small family-owned trucking company in Lincoln County called Short Trucking Co.

The last time Bowen saw her brother was April 7, before he left on a run to Florida.

Bowen said Turner spoke to his boss by phone April 8 from Rock Hill, S.C., as he was on his way back from Florida with a load of pallets.

He'd planned to spend Easter weekend with his 2-year-old son. He never made it.

The 18-wheeler Turner had driven to Florida was found in Vale, where he dropped the truck off at the Short Trucking Co. headquarters between 3 and 5 a.m. April 9, Phelps said. There has been no known contact with family or friends.

Turner's personal vehicle, a black Jeep Cherokee, also was found at the company headquarters.

Turner's belongings were found in both vehicles, Phelps said.

"He never even picked up his last paycheck," said Bowen, adding that his duffle bag was found in the semi with newly-prescribed medication still in it, along with his cell phone.

Both Bowen and Turner's friend, Michael Bryant, said they spoke with Turner daily and he has never dropped out of contact with them before. "He wouldn't have left his son for anything — he meant the world to Glen," Bowen said.

Turner's family and friends have put up hundreds of fliers seeking information about his whereabouts in Lincoln, Catawba and Caldwell counties, while his fellow truck drivers have posted signs along the highways from North Carolina to Florida, Bowen said.

Phelps said it is too early in the investigation to say if Turner may have been killed or kidnapped, and investigators are examining all possibilities surrounding Turner's disappearance.

There are no suspects at this time, Phelps said.

The Lenoir Police Department is working with the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and being assisted by the SBI to locate Turner.

Anyone with any information on the location of Turner is asked to contact the Lenoir Police Department at 757-2100 or the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department at (704) 732-9050.