A 28-year-old Page man has been ordered to spend nearly two decades behind bars for the fatal stabbing of a local teenager, closing a fast-moving case that pulled in officers from city streets to tribal lands.
Jared Turquoise was sentenced Friday to 18 years in state prison after pleading guilty to second‑degree murder in the killing of a 16‑year‑old in Page. The stabbing happened late on Nov. 14, 2025, after an argument at a home on the 100 block of 8th Avenue. The teen was rushed to Page Hospital, where he later died. Turquoise, described by police as a family acquaintance, fled the scene and was later located on tribal lands before being returned to state custody. The sentence caps an investigation that involved local, county, federal and tribal law enforcement.
Sentence and plea
Turquoise pleaded guilty to second‑degree murder and received an 18‑year state prison term, according to the Page Police Department and prosecutors. The outcome, reported by FOX 10 Phoenix, followed prosecutors’ review of the investigation and acceptance of the plea this week. Court records show Turquoise will serve his time in the Arizona Department of Corrections.
How the case unfolded
Page officers were called to the 8th Avenue home on the night of Nov. 14, 2025, after reports that a teenager had been severely wounded. The victim was taken to Page Hospital and later died, according to Arizona's Family. Investigators say Turquoise refused requests to leave the house, then took off, triggering a wider search.
Navajo Police eventually found him near Kaibeto on unrelated tribal charges and detained him. Detectives interviewed Turquoise in Tuba City, where, according to investigators, he acknowledged his involvement in the stabbing. A second‑degree murder warrant was then issued, and the U.S. Marshals Service initiated the process to return him to state custody.
Police credit multi‑agency work
Page Police credited a coordinated push across agencies for the rapid progress in the case, citing help from the Navajo Nation, Coconino County and federal partners. "Although today’s sentence marks the conclusion of the criminal case, the loss suffered by the victim’s family can never be replaced," the department said in a statement reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. Police added that the Coconino County Attorney’s Office reviewed the investigation before charges were filed.
Legal context
Under Arizona law, second‑degree murder carries a sentencing range that judges can adjust based on aggravating or mitigating factors. Per Arizona Revised Statutes §13‑710, the standard range is a minimum of 10 years, a presumptive term of 16 years and a maximum of 25 years. Turquoise’s 18‑year sentence falls within that statutory window for second‑degree murder.
Page Police Chief Tim Lange said staff have "worked tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring justice to the victim, his family, and to our community," in a social media post, Arizona's Family reported. The department urged residents to seek support in the wake of the case and emphasized that no criminal sentence can undo the loss. Investigators said the case underscores the value of coordination between tribal and state authorities in northern Arizona.
