Victim’s mom speaks out:Says son wasn’t allowed to roam county with Turner
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She’s an attractive, 27-year-old who put herself in position to be charged with 28 felonies for sex acts allegedly committed with a 13-year-old boy.
For the mother of that 13-year-old, the case has been anything but intriguing. It’s been a two-week battle with madness.
She spoke to the Standard for the first time Friday, saying so much has been said about her family it was time to respond. She said stories that her son had “gotten lucky” or that she didn’t keep proper watch over him as a parent are not the least bit accurate.
“No matter what happened, my son was the victim here,” she said. “He can’t even attend school because there are news trucks up there every day. How is he supposed to go to class?”
The mother, who the Standard won’t identify because it would then identify the victim, said eyewitness accounts that her son left basketball games with Turner are not true.
“People have made it sound like they left games together and were riding around the county at all hours of the night,” she said. “He didn’t leave games with her. I’ve been to every one of my son’s games. I wouldn’t miss them for the world. And when the game was over, he left with us. We didn’t just release him to her.”
Turner was, however, frequently around the family. She was welcome in their home. She went to restaurants with them. They spent time together.
“She was a close family friend,” said the victim’s mom. “There were times she did walk my son to the parking lot after games, but we were right there with her. She’d get in her car and we’d get in ours.”
Without making a judgment on Turner’s guilt or innocence, statistics show sexual abuse against children is most often perpetrated by a family friend. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that in 90 percent of the sexual abuse cases against children 12 and under, the child knew the offender. That statistic is consistent with almost all sexual abuse, according to the agency.
“In the majority of cases, it’s someone the family knows and trusts,” said McMinnville police investigator Nicole Mosley. “That’s why there are so many people who don’t believe the allegations. They know the person and they trust them.”
The victim’s mother would not say if she believes the charges against Turner are true. “I’m just trying to protect my son,” she said. She did say, however, she’s particularly annoyed by comments a relationship between her son and Turner was obvious.
“If it was so obvious, why didn’t anyone come forward before this made national news?” she asked. “It wasn’t just my son. She was friendly with all the students. That’s just the way she is. All the kids loved her. I think she admired my son’s ability to play ball because she is a former basketball player herself.”
The mother said community residents who have spoken out against her and her family are just barely acquaintances.
“It’s just people wanting their name in the paper,” the mother said. “Not once have I read anything from people who really know us. It’s always some Jane Doe who lives down the road who has seen us drive by. It’s not anybody who knows anything.”
The victim’s mom said requests for interviews have been constant, although they are finally beginning to slow. She said during the week after Turner’s arrest, six or seven reporters would visit the family home a day to ask for an interview. The family phone number is unlisted.