Jared Tyler Turner, the man accused of shooting Todd Bennett in a case of attempted murder, is now accused of another attempted murder. Turner was booked in to the Greene County Jail last Wednesday afternoon and the next day, he allegedly tried to break the neck of his cellmate.

Jared Tyler Turner, 24, of Linton, was first arrested by Det. Paul Clark of the Linton Police Department and booked in to the Greene County Jail last Wednesday afternoon, October 3.

Turner was held without bond pending his appearance in court this week and was being housed in holding cell #4 with only one other inmate in the same cell, Tyler Sperling.

Sperling, 25, also from Linton, was in jail since he was arrested on Monday, September 24, on a warrant issued on a petition to revoke a suspended sentence. Sperling was convicted of auto theft in July of 2017. He was sentenced, with part of his sentence suspended, he served the time he had to serve, and was on probation. In late August, the probation department filed the petition to revoke for an alleged probation violation and a warrant was issued for Sperling’s arrest. In late September, Sperling denied the violation in court, his bond was set at $20,000 surety with ten percent allowed, and he was scheduled back in court for an evidentiary hearing in early November. He didn’t post bond and after Turner’s arrest, the two were sharing a cell.

Shortly after the incident occurred in the jail on Thursday, October 4, Greene County Jail Officer John Sherer reported the battery and GCSD Detective Shawn Cullison was called in at 9:43 p.m. to investigate.

When Det. Cullison arrived back at the jail, EMTs were checking on Sperling and Cullison was able to speak briefly to him before Sperling was transported to Greene County General Hospital by the Greene County Ambulance Service.

Cullison said Sperling told him he was just sitting on his bed when Turner tried to break his neck.

Cullison then reviewed video surveillance from holding cell #4 that showed the incident but did not include audio.

Cullison reported the video showed Turner and Sperling were the only two people in the cell at the time. Sperling was sitting on the edge of the only bed in the cell, with his head down, and Turner was sitting on a bench next to the bed. Turner stood up, walked over to Sperling, quickly placed one hand on each side of Sperling’s head and violently twisted Sperling’s head. Turner then sat back down on the bench.

The detective then talked to Turner but when asked about the incident, Turner wanted to speak to an attorney and the interview ended.

Sperling reportedly was not seriously injured. His neck was not broken but when Cullison interviewed him the next day, Sperling said he was told at the hospital that he had a strained neck muscle. He said his neck was still hurting.

Det. Cullison reported that when he talked to Sperling, he learned the two men had known each other for many years and had lived together for a time a few years ago. Sperling said the first night Turner was with him in the cell, Sperling was drawing a picture with a pen and Turner asked if he intended to stab him with the pen.

Sperling allegedly said after he gave the pen to Turner, Turner was using the pen to stab into his own hand and the metal bench, then looked at Sperling and told him he was thinking about killing him. Sperling didn’t think he would because they knew each other.

Sperling said the next day, minutes before Turner allegedly attacked Sperling, Turner asked Sperling if he had ever killed anyone and Sperling said no. Minutes later, Turner twisted his neck and Sperling said he believed Turner was trying to kill him. He told the detective he didn’t know why and that there had been no arguments between the two men.

This was not the only incident involving Turner that occurred in the jail.

Prior to the altercation, Turner twice attempted to run out of his cell but was stopped. When asked about these attempts, Sperling allegedly said Turner was trying to escape and had said there had to be a way out of there.

Another incident occurred after the altercation with Sperling. Sperling was moved out of the cell and everything in the cell was removed except for a blanket and a mat. But on Friday, October 5, when two jail officers were moving Turner out of the holding cell and into a different one, they found a piece of plastic wrap that had been twisted into a makeshift rope. A jail officer said Turner’s breakfast tray that morning would have been covered in plastic wrap. Det. Cullison noted the makeshift rope that was found was strong enough to strangle someone.

When contacted by GreeneStreets last Friday for more information about the attack and a confirmation, a law enforcement official declined to comment until the investigation was completed and the prosecutor’s office had made the decision to file charges.

This afternoon, Wednesday, October 10, the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office did file the additional criminal case against Turner. After a judge found probable cause to believe the crime was committed, a warrant was issued for Turner’s arrest in the new case, but obviously they already know where he is.

When Turner appears before Judge Dena Martin in Greene Superior Court for an initial hearing on the new case, Turner will be charged with:

Attempted murder, Level 1 felony,
Aggravated battery – assault poses a substantial risk of death, a Level 3 felony, and
Escape, a Level 5 felony.

The judge has specified that Turner’s bond in the new case be set according to the standard bond schedule but it’s not likely that he will be released anytime soon because his bond in the first case of the attempted murder of Todd Bennett has been set at $100,000 cash only.

To find earlier stories with more information and details about Turner and the first case of attempted murder, click on the tag below this story labeled “Jared Turner.”