A Belizean woman was found dead in the Westmont area of Los Angeles County last Thursday night. The incident has prompted a homicide investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Authorities initially reported that 31-year-old Joeline Turton, a Belizean entrepreneur and restaurant owner, had been shot, but the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later confirmed that the cause of death was multiple sharp-force injuries.
A motive has not been released, and no suspects have been named.
Turton owned Peppers Jamaican Cuisine, a well-known restaurant in South Los Angeles that served Caribbean cuisine and was popular among Belizeans in the area.
Local news outlet Hollywood LA News reported that Turton “reportedly went with a group of four or five friends to attack the ex-girlfriend of her partner and ended up being killed.”
Turton’s mother told the local media, “She was the most beautifulest inside and out, she doesn’t bring harm to nobody, she’s always been a peaceful person… We are undecided right now what we’re going to do about the restaurant, but I wish I could just keep going for her sake, because that’s what she’d like.”
“She’s always that person who’s trying to bring the family together,” the mother added.
