Pamela Turner's family says she struggled with paranoid schizophrenia
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Attorneys and activists joined the family of 44-year-old Pamela Turner outside the Harris County Courthouse on Thursday for a press conference.
Turner’s death has gotten local and national attention. It was caught on video by a witness. She was shot multiple times by Baytown Police Officer Juan Delacruz at Brixton Apartments in Baytown on Monday night. Turner and Delacruz got into a struggle and Baytown police say she reached for the officer’s Taser.
Turner’s family says she was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2005. They had photos of Turner that show a young, smiling woman before her diagnosis — the opposite of Turner’s mugshot released by Baytown Police on Monday.
“This is Pam before she got sick. A black, beautiful baby,” said Antoinette Dorsey-James lifting the photo. Dorsey-James identified as Turner’s older sister.
They say the diagnosis was hard on the entire family and Turner continued to work at a local hospital secretary until her illness was too debilitating.
Chelsie Rubin, 22, and Cameron January, 25, were also at the press conference. They are Turner's daughter and son.
They described her as a generous, loving, and hardworking mother.
"She worked the night shift, 12 hours," recalled Rubin. "She was supposed to do 4 days on, 3 days off, but she would do overtime so she can make sure we had. I don’t know how it was possible for her to go to work, take care of her kids, cook for us, and still be a part of our lives all within 24 hours."
Turner also had three grandchildren. The youngest was born just days before she died.
The Texas Rangers are now investigating the case. The Texas Department of Public Safety sent FOX 26 the following statement:
"At the request of the Baytown Police Chief, the Texas Rangers (DPS) are conducting an investigation into the death of Pamela Turner.
Once their investigation is complete it will be submitted to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
This investigation remains ongoing and no further details are available for release at this time."
Baytown Police say they are unable to comment now that DPS is in charge of the investigation, but are working to grant FOX 26's request for the protocol on how to address incidents involving individuals with mental illness.
Turner's funeral is scheduled for next Thursday at noon at Lilly Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
The family's attorneys say the are conducting a private autopsy.