Tina Turner’s Oldest Son Reportedly Commits Suicide At 59


Tina Turner’s oldest and firstborn son Craig Turner has been found dead reportedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. TMZ first reported the news this afternoon. Turner was found dead in his home in Studio City, CA. Police arrived on scene soon after receiving a call about a possible gunshot. Turner was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 59 years old.

An autopsy is currently pending.

Raymond Craig Turner was born in August of 1958. At the time, Tina Turner was just 18 when she had Craig. He was the son of saxophonist Raymond Hill who performed in the backing band of Tina’s soon-to-be husband Ike Turner. Ike ended up adopting Craig as his own after he and Turner married four years later after her relationship with Hill fell apart.

In a 2005 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Turner stated that Craig was “a very emotional kid” and offered support for her during her physically abusive relationship with Ike. In the same interview, she shared that after a rather nasty fight with Ike, Craig knocked on the door asking “Mother, are you alright?”. “Before you can really help them, you have to strengthen yourself” she continued. Craig was only in high school by the time Turner ended her relationship with Ike in 1978.

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Singer Tina Turner performs onstage during the 50th annual Grammy awards held at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Turner has since married German producer Erwin Bach. The two have maintained a relationship for over 30 years. In a recent interview with The Times, Turner stated she has forgiven Ike for years of hardship they endured during their marriage but refuses to tour with him. Turner stated Ike asked for one more tour and she rebutted “absolutely not”.

Craig Turner is survived by his mother and half-brother Ronnie Turner.

Tina Turner, 78, currently resides in Switzerland after renouncing her U.S. citizenship. She was seen last week with Bach making appearances in Paris for the Haute Couture Fashion Week. She has yet to release a statement regarding the news of her sons death.

Before his death, Craig Turner spent his time as a real estate agent in the San Fernando Valley. According to his Rodeo Realty profile, he was a member of the National Association of Realtors as well as the California Association of Realtors.

More on the story as it develops.


If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. For readers outside the U.S., visit Suicide.org or Befrienders Worldwide for international resources you can use to find help.

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