Judge delivers life sentence, telling courtroom: “Hope belongs with the survivors”

THE WOODLANDS, TX – “They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.” Those were the words spoken by Judge Kathleen Hamilton as she sentenced Broderick Tyrone Turner Jr. to life in prison for the brutal, premeditated attack on his former girlfriend.

Turner, 37, was convicted on October 13, 2025, of Aggravated Assault – Family Violence Causing Serious Bodily Injury with a Deadly Weapon following a trial in the 359th District Court. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jaime Wallace and Frances Manzo.

The crime occurred on August 13, 2023, after the victim had returned home from what she described as a terrifying day. Earlier that evening, while driving home from a trip, Turner attempted to kill her with a hammer. The woman escaped by jumping from his moving vehicle and running into oncoming traffic on I-10, where a retired law enforcement officer came to her aid. As she was providing a report to police, Turner stole her house keys, went to her residence, and hid in her closet. When the victim laid down to sleep that night, Turner ambushed her, stabbing her multiple times in her bed before stealing her phone and fleeing the scene.

Bleeding heavily from her wounds, the victim managed to reach for her daughter’s phone and call 911. Responding Conroe Police Department officers quickly applied a tourniquet, saving her life. Investigators later recovered the victim’s blood from Turner’s vehicle.

During the trial, the court heard testimony from Officer Paul Caughman of the Conroe Police Department, who described finding the victim bleeding profusely from a severed artery and fighting to stay conscious. He quickly applied a tourniquet that ultimately saved her life. The court also heard from Investigator Cassondra Cunningham, who analyzed Turner’s cellphone and uncovered extensive digital evidence, including text messages, search history, and GPS data that showed his plan to kill the victim and his obsessive efforts to control and track her.

When Turner took the stand and attempted to claim self-defense, prosecutors revealed his violent history, including prior convictions for Kidnapping and Battery in another state and an incident in the Montgomery County Jail where he bit off another inmate’s nose. During the punishment phase, another survivor testified about Turner’s repeated violence, including strangulation, biting, kidnapping, and sexual assault during their brief relationship.

In closing arguments, prosecutors Wallace and Manzo urged the Court to impose a life sentence to ensure protection, peace, and lasting safety for both survivors and potential future victims. Turner’s defense attorney asked for leniency “to give him hope.” Judge Hamilton rejected that request, stating that “hope belongs with the survivors” before delivering the life sentence.

ADA Jaime Wallace said, “Together, these survivors turned pain into purpose. They faced the monster who once terrorized them and stood taller than his violence. Their courage didn’t just bring justice — it changed lives and stopped him forever.”

District Attorney Brett Ligon said, “Some crimes reveal the worst in humanity, but they also reveal the best in those who refuse to give up. The bravery of this survivor, the compassion and quick action of our first responders, and the diligence of our prosecutors remind us that even in the darkest moments, justice can still bring light.”