How did Craig Turner die? Tina Turner's firstborn allegedly took his own life
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: News of Tina Turner's death at 83 has stunned the world and sent it spiralling into grief. But Turner herself was never far from it through her life.
Herfirstborn son, Craig Turner, died of apparent suicide in 2018. Craig was 59 years old. According to Ed Winter, assistant chief of investigations for the Los Angeles coroner's department, the American-born Swiss singer’s son was found dead inside his home in Studio City, California around 12:38 pm with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities pronounced him dead at the scene. An autopsy is pending which will reveal more details of the tragic event. Craig used to work in real estate and was the firstborn son of the music legend Tina. Hours before her son was found dead, Tina was seen attending the Giorgio Armani Prive Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2018-2019 show in Paris on Tuesday.
Craig was born in 1959 to Tina and her then-boyfriend Raymond Hill, a saxophonist for the Kings of Rhythm band. Tina was just 18 when she gave birth to Craig. Craig was adopted by Ike Turner when Tina married him in the year 1962.
In a 2005 interview with Oprah, Tina shared that Craig was "a very emotional kid" who would offer her support when she was physically abused by Ike. “He’d always look down in sadness,” she said of her son’s response to her abuse. “One day when Ike was fighting me, Craig knocked on the door and said, ‘Mother, are you all right?’ I thought, ‘Oh, please, don’t beat me at home.’ I didn’t want my children to hear.”
The rocky and abusive marriage had reportedly even driven Tina to attempt suicide. Tina left Ike and finally got divorced from him in 1978 — Craig was in high school at the time. Tina went on to marry German music producer Erwin Bach, her partner of nearly 30 years, in 2013.
The singer recently launched a musical based on her life, Tina, in London — which details every turbulent moment of her 50-year singing career.
This year has seen the tragic end of many well known celebrities including the likes of renowned chef Anthony Bourdain, fashion designer Kate Spade, and music giant Avicii.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)