RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks a major milestone in the pursuit of justice for Dustin "Dusty" Turner, a former U.S. Navy SEAL wrongfully convicted in 1996 for crimes he did not commit. A Change.org petition titled "The Navy SEAL Left Behind: The Wrongful Conviction of Dustin Turner" has surpassed 10,000 signatures, reflecting growing national support and a renewed demand for action from outgoing Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.

In June of 1995, Turner witnessed fellow Navy SEAL trainee Billy Joe Brown murder 21-year-old Jennifer Evans, a bright and talented pre-med student from Georgia whose life was tragically cut short while on holiday in Virginia Beach. Despite trying everything he could to pry Billy's arms off Jennifer, he was unable to save her. In a moment of panic and misguided loyalty, Turner assisted in the cover-up—a decision he would later regret and reveal to authorities. When Turner disclosed the truth to his commanding officer, he was instructed to tell police everything. He did so without legal counsel.

Brown, in an attempt to protect himself and retaliate against Turner for breaking the SEAL code of silence, implicated Turner in the crimes. Despite no physical evidence linking Turner to the murder and the circumstantial nature of the case, Turner was convicted of felony first-degree murder and abduction with intent to defile. He was sentenced to 82 years in prison without the possibility of parole. By contrast, the real perpetrator, Billy Joe Brown, received a sentence of 72 years despite being convicted for the additional charge of attempted rape.

In 2009, after Brown recanted his false testimony at trial and confessed to acting alone in an evidentiary hearing in 2008, the Virginia Court of Appeals initially granted Turner a Writ of Actual Innocence, a legal recognition that exonerated him based on new non-DNA evidence. However, the state's Attorney General appealed the ruling, and a full panel of judges reversed the decision, relying on a new theory never presented at trial. The Supreme Court of Virginia upheld that reversal, and Turner's convictions were reinstated.

Now 50 years old, Turner has spent 30 years behind bars—most of his adult life—despite growing consensus from legal experts, military personnel, and even jurors in his case who believe he was innocent of the crimes he was convicted of:

• Judge Frederick B. Lowe, who presided over the post-conviction hearing, found Brown's confession "credible" and concluded that Turner played no role in the murder and restraint of the victim.
• Alan Reed, the jury foreman in Turner's original trial, stated that the majority of jurors believed Turner was innocent of the murder.
• Retired SEAL John Floyd, assigned by the Navy to investigate the case, concluded that Turner was not involved in the murder and that his role was that of an accessory after the fact, punishable by a maximum sentence of 12 months at the time
• Francis Folis Jones, a retired psychiatrist with the Virginia Department of Corrections, identified Turner as one of only two inmates he believed to be truly innocent in his 23-year career.

Since his incarceration, Turner has shown extraordinary personal growth and leadership, creating restorative justice programs, mentoring fellow inmates, and spearheading sustainability initiatives across several correctional institutions. His achievements and exemplary record of good behavior over three decades reflect the life of a man who has always been committed to serving his country.

Virginia's 2020 parole reform law offers a narrow opportunity for Turner's case to be reconsidered. Yet, for clemency to be granted, the Virginia Parole Board must recommend it. With over 10,000 people now publicly supporting Turner's release, the message is clear: Justice has been delayed long enough. The time has come for Governor Glenn Youngkin to correct a historic wrong and grant clemency to a man who has paid far too high a price for telling the truth.

"Whether or not I waste away the rest of my life in Virginia's prison system will be up to those who care about me and/or those who care about justice."
 — Dustin Turner

To learn more about the case, visit www.Freedusty.com or watch Target of Opportunity, a documentary available on Amazon Prime, AppleTV, Peacock, and Tubi.

Media Contact:
Annette Larkin, 400378@email4pr.com, 703.772.6427

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SOURCE The Dusty Turner Coalition for Justice