Paulding County sheriff says high-profile 2017 cold case now closed

Authorities say Heather Turner's death has been ruled a suicide after years of investigation

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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After years of unanswered questions, the Paulding County Sheriff's Office has announced that the 2017 death of Heather Turner has been ruled a suicide. Heather Turner was found dead in her bathroom by her husband, Andy Turner, on May 4, 2017. The sheriff's office brought in a cold case analyst to review the investigation, and they say the evidence now clearly points to Heather Turner taking her own life.

Why it matters

This case had been a high-profile cold case for the Paulding County Sheriff's Office for nearly 9 years, with the initial investigation facing scrutiny over how it was handled. The sheriff's office has now provided a resolution, though the county coroner has issued a statement indicating she still has questions about the case.

The details

After being elected sheriff, Ashley Henson's department took another look at the case and brought in a cold case analyst, Eddie Herman, to review the files. Herman said the initial investigation got off track, but the evidence they reviewed - including Heather Turner's DNA on the gun's trigger guard and gunshot residue on her hands - supports the conclusion that her death was a suicide. The sheriff's office also interviewed Heather's husband, Andy, last month as part of the review.

  • Heather Turner was found dead in her bathroom on May 4, 2017.
  • The Paulding County Sheriff's Office announced the case was closed on February 21, 2026.
  • The GBI amended the autopsy report to list the manner of death as suicide on January 30, 2026.

The players

Ashley Henson

The Paulding County Sheriff.

Eddie Herman

A retired Cobb County Police Department detective who was brought in as a cold case analyst to review the investigation.

Heather Turner

The victim who was found dead in her bathroom in 2017.

Andy Turner

Heather Turner's husband, who found her dead body in their bathroom.

Lindsey Eberhart Fuller

The Paulding County Coroner who has issued a statement indicating she still has questions about the case.

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What they’re saying

“Heather's death has been ruled a suicide. As of today, this case is closed.”

— Ashley Henson, Paulding County Sheriff (11alive.com)

“Heather's DNA was recovered and identified on the trigger guard. It was the only DNA recovered off the gun. Heather Turner's hands tested positive for gunshot residue.”

— Eddie Herman, Cold case analyst (11alive.com)

“In the years since this happened, witness statements, memories, that can be affected. But this not changed.”

— Eddie Herman, Cold case analyst (11alive.com)

What’s next

While the sheriff's office considers the case resolved, Paulding County Coroner Lindsey Eberhart Fuller has issued a statement indicating she still has questions about the case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of investigating cold cases, where evidence and witness recollections can become compromised over time. However, the sheriff's office believes the evidence they reviewed, including DNA and gunshot residue, supports their conclusion that Heather Turner's death was a suicide.