Michelle Lee Turner, a 44-year-old Athens, Alabama woman remembered by coworkers for her warmth and constant laughter, was found dead in her apartment early Monday morning in what police describe as a domestic-related homicide. Her ex-boyfriend, 47-year-old Calvin Troupe, has been charged with capital murder — just eight days after his arrest on a domestic violence charge involving Turner, and while he was under a court order to stay away from her.
What Happened
Athens Police officers responded to the Fifth Avenue Apartments at 700 Fifth Avenue around 1 a.m. Monday after receiving a call for assistance. Inside the bedroom of her residence, officers found Turner deceased. The criminal complaint filed in Limestone County District Court does not describe how she died.
Detectives identified Troupe, Turner’s ex-boyfriend, as a suspect and located him in Decatur. He was taken into custody and transported back to Athens before being charged with capital murder and transferred to the custody of the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, where he remains held. Athens Police have not released further details about the evidence that led them to Troupe, and the investigation remains active. The department thanked the Decatur Police Department and the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
Troupe faces a capital murder charge specifically because Alabama law allows murder to be charged as a capital offense when it’s committed while the defendant is under a protective order or court-ordered condition of release protecting the victim. The charge is an allegation, and Troupe is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
A Protective Order Violated Days Before Her Death
Court documents obtained by FOX54 show Athens Police had arrested Troupe on September 20 — eight days before Turner’s death — on a charge of third-degree domestic violence. In a sworn complaint from that arrest, the responding officer described finding Turner with a busted lip and blood around her mouth. She told the officer that Troupe had entered her home and struck her three times in the mouth.
Troupe was released the following day under conditions that included no contact with Turner and a prohibition on possessing a gun.
A Habitual Offender Paroled Earlier This Year
Court records reviewed by FOX54 show Troupe has a criminal history spanning more than three decades, including arrests for first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, and breaking and entering a vehicle. Following a 2007 robbery conviction, a court identified him as a habitual offender and sentenced him to life in prison.
Records from the Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Parole show Troupe was granted parole on February 3, 2026 — despite the State of Alabama opposing his release. Meeting minutes show the board voted in favor of parole with special conditions, including a stay at a halfway house, enrollment in a substance abuse treatment program, use of a GPS ankle monitor, and ongoing mental health and drug assessments.
Remembered by Coworkers
Turner worked at the Quik Mart in Ardmore, where she’d been employed since February. Store manager Jordan Legg described her as a devoted mother whose three children were her priority, and someone who could walk into work dealing with her own struggles and still find a reason to smile.
“She lived by our culture code, and she didn’t even know it,” Legg said. “A part of our culture code is we are kind, and Michelle was always kind, always.”
Legg said Turner’s laugh had become part of the workplace, often spreading to coworkers and customers alike. Turner last worked Friday; her name was still on the schedule for Tuesday when coworkers learned of her death. “It was a very devastating moment. We were about 15 minutes from opening the store. So, we didn’t have very long to process it,” Legg told FOX54.
The store lit candles in Turner’s memory and began collecting donations to help her family with final expenses. A GoFundMe has also been established to support her children. Customers have separately reached out to donate to the store’s Blessing Board, a program that provides meals for people who can’t afford one, in Turner’s honor. “That’s something I think she would absolutely love,” Legg said.
A Message About Domestic Violence
Turner’s coworkers have used her death as an opportunity to speak directly to others who may be experiencing domestic violence. The store’s memorial for Turner includes a domestic violence hotline.
“You’re not alone,” Legg said. “There are people that go through it every day and you may not notice it, but you can speak up.” She added: “Everybody deserves to live a safe and happy life, and that’s the message I want everybody to see. If you need help, there’s people out there. There are so many resources. Just reach out.”
