On a Tuesday morning in January 1993, Vivian King called 911, reporting her 17-year-old daughter, Shilie Turner, missing. Turner had last been seen Sunday night leaving their Westfield, Pennsylvania, home to attend a dance with a friend. When Shilie failed to return and missed a track meet the following day, concern turned to panic. Journalist Yvonne Latty later recalled on a May 30 episode of Philly Homicide:
“She was not only the star of the team, she was always there. She would never, ever not have shown up.”
Shilie lived with her mother, stepfather Clarence Jones, and two sisters. Friends described her as an Olympic hopeful and a natural-born leader. Quanda Gary, a family friend, noted that Shilie took on household responsibilities while Vivian worked long hours, which may have contributed to her secretive behavior regarding her personal life.
Disappearance and Early Investigation
Contrary to initial assumptions, Shilie was not attending a party the night she disappeared. Instead, she had planned to meet her boyfriend, Shaun Williams, according to her friend Andrea. Andrea helped Shilie get ready and lent her father’s leather jacket to wear with her purple tracksuit, walking her to the bus stop.
Williams told investigators that Shilie spent the evening quietly at his home, listening to music in his bedroom. When they realized it was 1:30 a.m., he escorted her to the bus stop for the ride home. Williams was initially a suspect but was later cleared after the bus driver confirmed seeing Shilie board alone.
Discovery of Shilie’s Body
One month after Shilie vanished, a man walking his dog in Fairmount Park discovered a female body under a tarp. The victim had been shot in the face, chest, and hand. Although the body required defrosting for positive identification, her purple tracksuit left no doubt.
Detectives notified Vivian King, who immediately named her daughter’s track coach, Tim Hickey, as a suspect, expressing concerns about his attention to the girls on the track team.
Hickey, however, had an alibi, confirmed by witnesses who placed him at a party the night of the murder. The focus then returned to family dynamics. Shilie’s funeral raised suspicion, as journalist Yvonne Latty noted Vivian’s seemingly unusual behavior among mourners, waving and greeting attendees rather than appearing overtly grief-stricken.
Confession and Motive
Suspicion deepened when Vivian appeared on a local talk show and described in detail how Shilie had been shot, including noting her teeth “glistening in the moonlight.” Investigators considered this knowledge impossible without direct involvement. Retired assistant district attorney Judith Frankel Rubino emphasized that such specific detail indicated firsthand knowledge of the crime.
Re-interviews and a polygraph test ultimately revealed inconsistencies in Vivian’s account. During questioning, Vivian reacted unusually, laughing unnaturally, then later agreeing to the test. After failing, she began crying, stating:
“You must think I’m a monster—only a monster could have done this.”
Vivian confessed that she had consumed alcohol while waiting for Shilie to return. Upon Shilie’s arrival, a physical altercation ensued. Vivian retrieved a gun, forced Shilie into a car under the pretense of taking her to the police station, and drove to Fairmount Park. There, after another struggle, Vivian struck Shilie on the head and then shot her, resulting in her death.
Trial and Sentencing
Vivian King was charged with murder, a revelation that shocked the community. Years later, journalist Yvonne Latty suggested a possible motive rooted in jealousy, noting that Vivian had run track as a child but had never achieved the success Shilie enjoyed.
During her October 1993 trial, Vivian claimed her confession was coerced. However, the jury convicted her of third-degree murder, determining she was too intoxicated to fully understand her actions. She was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison.
Summary Table of Key Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Victim | Shilie Turner, 17 |
| Perpetrator | Vivian King, mother |
| Location | Westfield, Pennsylvania; body found in Fairmount Park |
| Date of Disappearance | January 1993 |
| Date of Death | October 9, 1993 (fatal shooting) |
| Method | Gunshot wounds to face, chest, and hand |
| Motive | Likely jealousy, family conflict |
| Initial Suspects | Boyfriend Shaun Williams, Track coach Tim Hickey (both cleared) |
| Trial Outcome | Convicted of third-degree murder |
| Sentence | 10–20 years in prison |
The tragic murder of Shilie Turner by her mother, Vivian King, shocked the Westfield community and highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic conflict, jealousy, and impulsive violence.
Despite initial theories pointing to external suspects, thorough investigation and forensic evidence revealed that the crime was committed by someone within Shilie’s own household. Vivian King’s conviction and sentence served as a measure of justice for the victim, her family, and the broader community.
