Amber Turley charged with neglect after driving 3 sons into lake death

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Prosecutors have charged Amber Turley, 26, in the deaths of her three sons, Aaron, 8, Alex, 7, and Anthony, 2. She faces three counts of felony endangering the welfare of a minor.

Early on the morning of April 19, 2009, Turley drove her car into Brewer Lake. She and her three boys were on their way home from a friend's house around 3:30 a.m. when Turley missed a turn and drove straight into the water. It was raining that night. Turley told investigators she tried to get the boys out, but lost her grip on them.

In an interview back in April, Conway County Sheriff Mike Smith explained, "Johnny Walker Road is what it is and it runs off Highway 92 and Johnny Walker Road just goes straight down into the lake." Smith said that combined with bad visibility might have added to the accident.

Results of a toxicology report on Turley have not yet been released.

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/...=89101&catid=2

[...]
Her father, Larry Hopkins, said Friday the deaths have devastated the family and the charges were an "outrage."

"I think this is outrageous," Hopkins said. "They're saying that my daughter basically killed her kids."

Hopkins has said his daughter was trying to calm her children when she unexpectedly drove into the lake. The boys were later pronounced dead at a hospital.

The utility company, Conway Corp., manages Lake Brewer and has since put up barriers on the road Turley was on that led into the artificial lake. Conway Corp. didn't immediately return a call for comment Friday morning.

Hopkins blamed the company for the accident and said the road was regarded as a hazard for years, but the barricade didn't go up until after his grandchildren were killed.

"They say it's not over until the fat lady sings. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what tune they're going to play," Hopkins said.

Shortly after the accident, Conway County Sheriff Mike Smith said initially there was no indication Turley intended for her children to die. Smith said he would discuss the case later Friday.
[...]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...Q7dIQD99U4DP02

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/461439189

Im missing my angels and wishing i had all the answers to make the pain go away! Im hurtin so bad!! I love you angels!!

I'm not sure on this one... I hope more info comes out to indicate why the neglect charges versus declaring it an accident.

[Rockin Ma]

Amber Turley Im missing my angels and wishing i had all the answers to make the pain go away! Im hurtin so bad!! I love you angels!!
Mood: bummed at 1:35 AM Aug 5
Amber Turley is finally done for the day!! My man has straightened up the house for me today so i dont have to!! I'm gonna relax and spend some quality time with him!!
Mood: adventurous at 8:37 PM Aug 3
Amber Turley is really tired...gonna go cook out at Mom and Dads!! Mommas gonna cook up some ribs!! MMMM!! lol
Mood: tired at 5:04 PM Aug 2
Amber Turley is feeling pretty good today...its the first time in a long time!
Mood: bouncy at 5:15 PM Jul 30
Amber Turley is wishing things would start looking up for me!
Mood: sad at 10:13 PM Jul 28

From her myspace. Mood Status

[Rockin Ma]

About me:
I'm lost and confused about the recent events in my life. I miss my children so badly and just wish that someone could explain to me how i am supposed to start over when i have no desire to keep on living without my children in my life. My friend Belle Ame has this posted in her Blog and it is beautiful...I just wanted to share it with everyone: If Tomorrow Begins Without Me.... If Tomorrow Begins Without Me By Martha White ©1996 When tomorrow starts without me and I'm not there to see.. If the sun should rise and find your eyes.. all filled with tears for me. I wish so much you wouldn't cry.. the way you did today, while thinking of the many things we didn't get to say. I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, and each time you think of me I know you'll miss me too. But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand.. an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand He said my place was ready.. in heaven far above, but said I would have to leave behind.. all those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye, for all my life, I'd always thought.. I didn't want to die. I had so much to live for.. and so much yet to do, it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays.. the good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for awhile.. I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized.. that this could never be, for emptiness and memories.. would take the place of me. And when I think of worldly things, that I would miss tomorrow.. I think of you, and when I do, my heart is filled with sorrow. But as I walked through heaven's gates.. I felt so much at home, as God looked down and smiled at me, from His great, golden throne, He said, "This is eternity and all I've promised you", Today life on earth is past.. but here it starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day's the same day, there's no longing for the past. But you have been so faithful, so trusting, and so true. There were those times.. you did some things.. you knew you shouldn't do. But you have been forgiven and now at last you’re free. So won't you take my hand.. and share my life with me? So when tomorrow starts without me.. don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me.. I'm right here in your heart. ..

From her MS

[biteme]

that's a dam strange road there, wouldn't want to drive it late at night after a few beers in the rain.

[Just my luck sucks]

She and her three boys were on their way home from a friend's house around 3:30 a.m.

Johnny Walker Road just goes straight down into the lake

Hopkins has said his daughter was trying to calm her children

3:30 a.m., straight road, trying to "calm her children"

Two words:

Susan Smith.

[biteme]

disagree, this seems more like a possible accident

no Susan Smith

[Dakota Valkyrie]

3:30 a.m., straight road, trying to "calm her children"

Two words:

Susan Smith.

Susan Smith intentionally killed her kids. Even the cops in this case are saying that it was not intentional. If they thought that, she would have murder charges.

A road that goes straight into the water, during the dark, in a rain storm, may not be visible. If she was unfamiliar with the road, she may not have seen it until it was too late. I assume that if indications were that she was drinking (or drugs) there would have been more severe charges.

Is it neglectful to turn away from the road for too long a period? Yes. Even under the best of conditions, a hazard could be in the road.

But what the hell kind of road goes straight int a lake?? Were there warning signs? There certainly wasn't a barrier of any sort.

Not even a sign that said "Drive on in! The water's fine!!"

[Just my luck sucks]

Hopkins blamed the company for the accident and said the road was regarded as a hazard for years

Sounds as if she grew up in the area? Would be familiar with a road regarded as a hazard for years?

Something just sets off my hinkey meter on this one. My kids would be sleeping in the back seat at 3:30 a.m., why would she have to be "calming" them? What could upset kids at that time of night? Does she not know how to swim? How do you lose your grip on all kids? She didn't manage to at least save one?

I don't know- I grew up in a small town --knew all the roads, even in the dark/rain. Then again, I'm a strong swimmer, used to be a lifeguard.

RIP Aaron, Alex and Anthony

[buggysmommy]

Wow! I can't magine how this poor girl wakes up one day to the next. How incredibly sad and despaired she must be. I bet it really is a feat for her to have a good day. I don't even know her and my heart aches for her. I can't imagine taking another breathe if my Buggy was not with me everyday. All I can think of is wanting to be dead in a situation like that.

How completely country is it to have an opening right to the water at the end of a straight road? This county is just as much at fault as she supposedly is then. Horrible, horrible tragedy...

[ineedanap]

I'm having a hard time with the neglect charges when we have 3 dead kids here. She neglected to negotiate the turn? She neglected to keep her car on the road? She neglected to remove the children from the vehicle before they drown?

[coffee achiever]

Jesus Christ, that's a terrifying road. No reflectors, no road paint, no nothing to indicate that the road drops off into the lake. I can't imagine what that must have looked like at 3:30 am in the rain. A whole lot of black nothing would be my guess.

I'm giving the mom the benefit of the doubt on this one. And F whoever designed that little bit of paved hell right there.

[MadeaBecBec]

Smith said Turley's eldest son had told her he could swim. He said she had her second eldest child hold onto her belt while she gathered the 2-year-old Anthony in her arms as they exited through the driver's window of the sedan.

Turley told investigators that Aaron didn't make it to shore and that Alex lost his grip. She said that as she grasped for Alex, the toddler slipped from her arms. Turley was able to swim to shore and run a half mile to the nearest home to call 911.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517358,00.html

The county prosecutor says Amber Turley had "definitely been drinking" before driving her car down a dead end road in Plumerville and into a lake. It happened on a former state highway leading into Brewer Lake.

Turley managed to get to shore but her three sons Aaron Turley, 8, Alex Turley, 7, and Anthony Turley, 2, all drowned.

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/n...ext?cid=244392

I tried to post this last night, when the website ate my thread!!
When this happened back in April, I went to her myspace page, there were many quotes and comments about going out and drinking, partying and wanting to be with the new bf, after she was released from hospital and interview with detectives, that same night (April 20) she changed her myspace and deleted alot of stuff, I think I know why!
Amber and her boys had been at the new bf's home in Conway,AR about 15 miles from her home, friends said she had driven that road many times! Family stated that the youngest, Anthony, was running a fever, so she decided to go home, at 2 in the morning?? I guess her reasoning skills were hampered by alcohol.....
Brewer Lake was constructed in 1984, owned by Conway Corporation, used for drinking water purposes! Anyone that has lived in the area for very long knows about the old highway(92) being under water and there is a sign, a yellow one, that states "Lake Ahead", no barriers there at the time, because of CC's work trucks, alot of fishing boats put in at this location! Plans are to put up a gate....
Alcohol consumption, driving in a hard rain at 2 in the morning with your children in the car, yep, I'd call that child endangerment!

[Just my luck sucks]

BaldKnobRd wrote:
As a resident of the area, I would like to make it known this location is less than prob 3 minutes from where the mother grew up and the family reside. The lake is well-known and the entrance is not part of the main road. Boaters and residents, as well as, out of towners go fishing here. There is a gate and sign located along the entrance to the lake. There are lights in the parking lot. This area is also known for locals who shoot fireworks from the parking lot and boat dock. Everyone our age also know the location very well because it was a place to "hang out" back in the day. It isn't simply a wrong turn and "bam" your in a lake. A person has to drive down to the lake. After reading some of the post, apparently some think it was a thunderstorm and pouring down hard rain which would have been hard to drive in?? It wasn't. Perhaps light showers during the night, but not a storm. I pray for the family and the tragic loss. Three beautiful little boys will greatly be missed by their family, friends, teachers, and those who know and love them dearly. They are in a safe place now.
As for the county, we have a wonderful county judge, the "road" is not a road belonging to our county. Some of you should listen to the newscast before posting comments. 4/20/2009 11:58 PM CDT on TodaysTHV.

Turley was able to swim to shore and run a half mile to the nearest home to call 911.

Lived in the area all her life, 26, In apparent good health, able to swim to shore and run a 1/2 mile...yet, couldn't save even one of her babies? IMO, something is very wrong here.

[MC30]

this happened in my state and when it did it made the front page of every paper...heck i even sent an e-condolence to them....she had stated that she had 'had a few drinks' and then her son got sick later so she was gonna' drive them home...on the front page of the AR democrat-gazette today the said she would be charged with 3 counts felony child neglect...they stated that although her bac was not over the limit it still was neglect. and yes the road does lead into the water...its for launching boats.

[MichaelJCheaney]

And now things get just a touch more interesting.....

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/n...ext?cid=244542

KARK has obtained a message from an anonymous family member. It’s a voicemail we’ve confirmed was of Amber calling her ex-husband just moments before the accident. Police say this message is a part of their investigation. The message we received was time stamped April 19th, 3:01 a.m. The emergency call went out around 3:30 a.m. "Hey it's me. I'm drunk and I'm trying to drive home. I was gonna see if you could talk me home. But you're (expletive) up. Not being a daddy. Whatever. Talk to you later. Bye. (Quieter, in the background) I'm trying to drive."
Those were likely some the last words Amber Turley's sons ever heard her say.

So she calls the ex, knowing she is drunk?

That right there tells me she knew she was in the wrong to drive.

30 minutes later her kids are dead.

She should be looking at charges of Homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle at a minimum! (Or the Arkansas equivalent!)

And the prosecutor should be run out of town, for not pursuing MUCH more serious charges....

[MC30]

And now things get just a touch more interesting.....

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/n...ext?cid=244542


So she calls the ex, knowing she is drunk?

That right there tells me she knew she was in the wrong to drive.

30 minutes later her kids are dead.

She should be looking at charges of Homicide by negligent use of a motor vehicle at a minimum! (Or the Arkansas equivalent!)

And the prosecutor should be run out of town, for not pursuing MUCH more serious charges....

holy shit comoly where ya' find that...now i'm pissed as hell and would like to remove my e-condolence.....fucking moron! man from everything in the AR dem-gaz the family is all up in arms supporting her and questioning her mental state...LOCK HER UP!

[MC30]

great. now i'm left wondering if it wasn't a susan smith wannabe....'oh i did all i could i told the oldest to hang on to my belt loop while i tried to find the others...he said i can swim mamma and the she lost sight of all three.....
the sound you hear is my heart breaking.

[MichaelJCheaney]

holy shit comoly where ya' find that...now i'm pissed as hell and would like to remove my e-condolence.....fucking moron! man from everything in the AR dem-gaz the family is all up in arms supporting her and questioning her mental state...LOCK HER UP!

I just happened to be following the links, trying to make up my mind about whether this was an accident or negligent homicide, and after finding that particular story, and reading it, my mind was made up.

Negligent Homicide!

She flatout admitted she was drunk.

I am not going to go so far as to say that she intentionally drove into the lake, (I do not believe she did) but she had the presense of mind to know she should not have been driving.

[MC30]

i had really thought it a terrible accident from the papers until you posted that....now i'm just sad.

[MichaelJCheaney]

That was orginally my thought too.

But sadly that did not turn out to be the case.....

[ImmortalOne]

.... drunk driving with her babies in the car... and no one tried to stop her? No one tried to let her stay with them with a sick baby and to not drive drunk? This is just sad.... she will live with this for the rest of her life and I hope that they bring the charges to negligent homicide.

[Chaindrive]

That road is scarier than hell.

Smith said Turley's eldest son had told her he could swim.

WTF? What kind of mother has never seen her child swim, and doesn't know for a fact if he indeed can?

Even if I KNEW for a fact my child could swim, there would be no way I would let him try it in the dark and in the rain.

[cubby]

That's what I was thinking...what mother doesn't know if her 7-8 year old can swim? If you had asked my son at 7 if he could swim he would have said he can swim like a fish when actually he swam like a rock. I still think this is worst than negligence.

Cause why was she even on this road if it ends in a lake? Where was she going? To the lake? Think about it even if she was unfamiliar with the road i'm sure it didn't take long to figure out she was on the wrong road and to find place to turn around. But she just continues on hoping that it would magically take her where she wanted to go.

[thehesbomb]

"She's devastated. She's been devastated for three months. She says what else can they do to me daddy? You know I've done lost everything," said Turley’s father Larry Hopkins.

Fuck that. HER BOYS lost everything. She still has her freedom, the ability to breathe. Fuck that, "she lost everything". She should be behind bars where she belongs. Her selfish desires cost her sons their fucking lives.

[thebooblady]

That road is scarier than hell.



WTF? What kind of mother has never seen her child swim, and doesn't know for a fact if he indeed can?

Even if I KNEW for a fact my child could swim, there would be no way I would let him try it in the dark and in the rain.

That was my initial thought, too. After I read more articles, what I believe actually happened was the boy said "Mama, I can swim" (that was a quote from one article) and she let him as she had the middle child hold onto her belt and tried to carry the youngest. I think she was trying to figure out what to do and thought letting him swim on his own while she assisted the two children who were not able was the best thing to do. I don't fault her for that because if I was faced with the same scenario with my 3 who are 9,6, and 1 I would let the 9 year old swim on his own while I tried to get the other two to safety. But that doesn't excuse her being drunk and causing the accident....

[MC30]

my hard heart is still crying for these little boys, there family, and believe it or not, the mom as well.

[Silvahalo]

Beautiful treasures lost to alcohol and adult bullshit. This burns me deep. This mother might be hurting and I believe she is as I don't think this was an intentional kill. Nevertheless, how can she live with herself knowing she put her babies in grave danger? Oblivious, selfish and stupid equals dead children.

Try to live with this mistake, I know I couldn't live knowing I put my boys in the path of death, driving them to death literately.

I will never understand why people do what they do that brings such anguish to the ones they love. Rest in peace children in the heavens.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

[...]
The Conway County prosecuting attorney, Tom Tatum believes Turley's own actions led to what happened.

“There were several factors involved in the charge. Certainly one of those was the use of alcohol and how it affected the accident,” Tatum said.

LaTresha:” Did your daughter say she had been drinking that night?” Hopkins said: “She had drank earlier that night but the accident happened way way later.”

Tatum admits this isn't an easy case, three little boys are dead, but he has to follow the law.
[...]

http://www.fox16.com/news/local/stor...btQKmxUHQ.cspx

[thequeenofsorrow]

if our friend Tresako comes back after being banned his last name was Turley. Maybe he is related.

[myra manes]

3:30 a.m., straight road, trying to "calm her children"

Two words:

Susan Smith.

Yep!
Fucking bitch ..