Richmond County authorities say no foul play is suspected in the death of a transgender woman whose decomposing body was found nude on her bedroom floor Thursday.
Melvin Turner Jr., 42, went by Shainah Turner on several Facebook pages and had posted several times through Aug. 24 before they suddenly stopped. She was a frequent traveler and lived in Allen Homes inside an apartment on New Savannah Road in Augusta.
Turner was found without clothing in her bedroom, and the sheriff’s office and coroner was notified. She was pronounced dead at 1:05 p.m. Thursday, and an autopsy will be done in the coming days, Coroner Mark Bowen said.
She had medical issues, and an autopsy should help in determining the cause of death, including whether it involved a drug overdose, Bowen said.
“We want to find out what’s going on,” the corner said, adding that there was nothing to indicate Turner was shot or stabbed.
