Rocket Solves Cold Case, Credits UToledo Courses
When Adam Turner ’07 walked across the graduation stage at The University of Toledo with a degree in Criminal Justice, he was stepping into a career that would eventually lead him to crack a cold case many believed was unsolvable.
The Classroom That Shaped a Crime Solver
“The University of Toledo shaped my life in so many ways,” Turner said. “My professors in the Criminal Justice program were amazing. Dr. Kasey Tucker, especially, made a lasting impact. Her classes were challenging and engaging. Without UToledo, my career wouldn’t have been as successful as it is.”
Now a dedicated detective with the Shelby OH Police Department, Adam credits UToledo for laying the foundation that helped him become the investigator he is today. Through his undergraduate studies, Adam learned to think critically, examine problems from multiple perspectives and dig deep for the truth. These skills became essential in his role as a detective.
“Every class challenged me to be thorough, to evaluate issues from all angles. That mindset is critical in investigations,” he says. “I still carry those lessons with me every day.”
Adam’s time at UToledo also instilled in him a strong sense of community engagement and leadership.
“I was a Sig Ep and served as Chaplain for my fraternity,” he recalls. “I was taught excellence, leadership, and brotherly love through Sigma Phi Epsilon. I made lifelong friends, and I still carry those values with me.”
Solving a Cold Case
One of Adam’s most defining professional moments came recently when he solved a long-dormant case that many had written off as unsolvable. With little to go on, Adam relied on interagency collaboration and transparency to piece together the puzzle.
After nearly 80 years, Detective Turner solved the 1945 disappearance of Mary Jane Croft Vangilder, who vanished after leaving her job at the Wilkins Army Air Force Depot. Reopening the case in 2018 at the request of her granddaughter, Turner traced Vangilder’s path through military records, public input and forensic genealogy, ultimately discovering she had assumed a new identity as Mary J. Sebren, started a new family in Missouri, and died in Louisiana in 1990. A DNA match with her descendants confirmed her identity, bringing long-awaited closure to both families.
The Power of Collaboration
“You can’t survive on an island by yourself,” Turner explains. “I reached out to colleagues at the local, state and federal levels. Being completely transparent with my investigation made all the difference.”
It was a career-defining victory that boosted not only his confidence but his commitment to tackling more complex cases in the future.
“Solving this case with almost no initial information showed me what I’m capable of. I now know I can take on anything,” Turner reflects.
For current students considering a career in criminal justice, Adam offers both practical advice and inspiration:
“Take your studies seriously but enjoy college. Make friends, get involved be a leader. Know this—now is the perfect time to enter the field. Agencies everywhere are hiring, and if you work hard and stand out, you can get any job you want. But you have to earn it.”
As a seasoned detective with a passion for problem-solving, Adam is now extending his hand to the next generation of justice-seekers.
“I’m always open to consulting with students about careers or helping professionals review cold cases,” Turner said. “I love collaborating and sharing what I’ve learned.”
You can connect with Detective Turner on LinkedIn.