Turner moved to the Golden Hill area of San Diego, California on April 21, 2002. He lived with his mother, Tameka Jones, and stepfather, Tieray Dewayne Jones, in United States military housing. Tameka was a sailor in the United States Navy at the time and was deployed aboard the U. S. S. Rushmore while Tieray looked after Turner. The two apparently slept in the same bed, although the child had a bedwetting problem. Turner previously resided with his maternal grandmother, Penny Thompson, in Maryland. Tameka took him to California the day before her deployment. Photos of Tameka, Tieray and Thompson are posted below this case summary. Turner's biological father, Tramane Sampson, lived in Frederick, Maryland and was released from prison shortly before April 2002.

Tieray told authorities that he and Turner visited Balboa Park in the Golden Hill area near 28th Street and Cedar Street on April 25, 2002. The playground is near the 2800 block of Beech Street. Tieray said that he left Turner near the sandbox while he purchased a soda from a nearby vending machine. Tieray stated that a woman and two children were near the area at the time. He claimed that Turner had vanished by the time he returned. Turner has never been heard from again.

An extensive search of the area produced no clues as to Turner's whereabouts. Authorities announced that Tieray said he left his stepson unattended for approximately 15 minutes; Tieray denied the statement and claimed that Turner was unchaperoned for less than that amount of time.

Investigators released a sketch of the woman Tieray saw in the Balboa Park area on the day Turner disappeared. The image is posted below this case summary. Authorities identified the individual several days later and said that she provided unspecified information concerning Turner's case. The woman is not a suspect in the child's disappearance. Officials were reportedly unable to locate Turner's fingerprints on the playground equipment, prompting speculation that the child never visited the area. Authorities refused to comment on the reports, but stated that the last confirmed sighting of the child took place on April 23, two days prior to his reported disappearance. Tieray has a criminal history including drug charges and failure to pay child support in Maryland. He and Tameka allegedly took polygraph tests after Turner disappeared. Numerous media outlets reported that Tieray failed the exams, but officials refused to confirm the allegations. There have not been any arrests in connection with Turner's case.

Tieray was reportedly seen a day before Turner's disappearance, dragging what appeared to be a large satchel, duffel bag, or garbage bag to a dumpster near his apartment complex. Police do not know what was in the bag; the contents of the dumpster were hauled away before Turner was reported missing. Investigators have examined Tieray's diary and say some of the entries indicate that Turner was harmed before his disappearance was reported. Tieray reportedly wrote that he hoped Turner would forgive him for an unspecified transgression, and described the child as listless and inactive. Other entries, which described an outing in Balboa Park, are believed to have been faked.

Thompson traveled to San Diego in late April 2002 and initialized her own search for her grandson. Conflicts arose between Thompson's efforts and the continuing searches implemented by additional volunteers. The problems allegedly stemmed from Thompson's 'harsh attitude.' The volunteer search efforts ceased by early June 2002, as organizers cited creative differences with Thompson. She returned to Maryland by the end of the month. Tameka claimed that her mother took all of the donations intended for Turner's search efforts, but the accusation has never been verified.

Tameka and Tieray began working with a retired social worker to search for Turner during the summer of 2002. Sampson hired a private investigator to pursue his son in September 2002. The detective cited numerous inconsistencies in Tieray's version of events as reason for concern. Tameka and Tieray later moved back to Maryland and ended their relationship.

In October 2004, Tieray was arrested for attempted murder, assault and other charges. In January 2005, he was additionally charged with second-degree murder in the case of a Maryland man, John E. "Poochie" Hill. Prosecutors alleged that Tieray shot him to death during an argument in 2000, two years before Jahi vanished. All of the charges are unrelated to Jahi's disappearance. Tieray's trial was just about to begin when prosecutors dropped all the charges against him, as numerous witnesses were unavailable to testify.

Theories abound that Turner was abducted or other forces were at work in his disappearance. Police have said publicly that they are convinced he is dead, but they do not have enough evidence to file charges against anyone in connection with his presumed murder or even to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he is deceased. His case remains unsolved.

Left: Tameka Jones; Right: Tieray Jones, circa 2002

Left: Thompson; Right: Sketch of female witness in Balboa Park, 2002