- Allan Turnipseed
Murder of former Dallas resident in Mexican state of Jalisco should remind us never to get too comfortable, anywhere we live
DAVID WEBB | The Rare Reporter
No one knows what thoughts flashed through American expatriate Allan Turnipseed’s mind during the last moments of his life in his 
Mexican retirement home on Lake Chapala last month.
But they surely must have been thoughts tinged with shock and disbelief.
It was a turn of events that likely came about because the former Dallas resident became too comfortable in a foreign country plagued by violence. He may have let down his guard and placed trust in young strangers whose minds harbored deadly thoughts.
Turnipseed’s 40-year partner, Bob Tennison, reportedly discovered the 62-year-old lying face down in a hallway of their home. The victim’s assailants tied his hand behind his back and shot him in the head, according to published Mexican reports.
Two homeless, teenage Hispanic brothers, who were known associates of a street gang, confessed they had forced their way into the home to rob it. They killed Turnipseed after he threatened to turn them in to police, according to the reports. They allegedly took the equivalent of about $1,000 and a Toyota pickup from the scene before going shopping to purchase tennis shoes and clothing, as well as marijuana and food.
The shocking crime cut short the life of a respected member of Dallas’ LGBT community who had owned a local business and participated in the Stonewall Business and Professional Association. The prominent graphic designer — who was born in Canada, grew up in Dallas and graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington — also left behind several grieving relatives and many close friends.
It appears that Turnipseed had become as socially and charitably active during his seven-year residence in his Mexican community as he had been in Dallas. That probably led to a false sense of security that many tourists and expatriate residents tend to develop in Mexico.
I know that because of my frequent trips over the past two decades to Puerto Vallarta, which is 204 miles west of Guadalajara and Lake Chapala in the same state of Jalisco.
About four years ago, I was robbed on the street in Puerto Vallarta. I had become so comfortable visiting the city that I walked back to my hotel on the beach from a downtown nightclub one night, confident that no harm could come to me.
As I walked toward my hotel, two friendly young Mexican men joined me on the sidewalk. They walked beside me, asking me all of the questions to which I had become accustomed from the tribe of young hustlers that prowl the beach by day and the streets by night.
Suddenly, one of them was grabbing my wallet out of my pants pocket and the other one was sprinting down the street like a football player. He caught the pass of my wallet through the air, and both of them disappeared into the night.
I was lucky. The robbery consisted mostly of subterfuge. But it could just have easily gone very badly in different circumstances with the use of a knife or gun.
As it happened, I only lost a couple of hundred dollars, my credit cards and my peace of mind.
Some would say I was asking for trouble by walking alone at night, and I’m sure that’s true. I would never do the same thing in Dallas, which goes to show how comfortable I used to feel in Puerto Vallarta.
I imagine Turnipseed felt the same level of comfort. After all, he was in his own home, opening the door to a knock from a couple of teenagers with whom he had came into contact through a friend, who reportedly had given the youths food and shelter. The pair of brothers, who reportedly were American citizens abandoned by their parents, were a familiar sight in the community.
What Turnipseed might not have known is that many residents knew the two youths had reputations as thieves.
What I have come to realize is that known criminals commonly circulate in the midst of tourists on the beach and at other public places without interference in Mexico.
That information usually is gleaned only from bartenders and waiters, who either take a liking to a tourist or just don’t want to see a good source of tips disabled or permanently eliminated.
Mexico is an enchanting country, and most of its inhabitants are good people. But it has always been a much more dangerous destination than some people realize, and Turnipseed’s murder is not the first grisly attack on American residents on Lake Chapala.
While most of the recent Mexican violence can be attributed to the drug cartels’ wars with each other and the government, it likely has also created an atmosphere where human life is considered by criminals to be less valuable.
Mexico is a favorite destination for many LGBT tourists from Texas, and many people have successfully retired or maintain vacation homes there. Publicity about Turnipseed’s murder is unlikely to change that.
But hopefully it will be a strong reminder to all Americans that caution is more critical than ever when undertaking travel south of the border.
David Webb is a former staff writer for the Dallas Voice. E-mail him at davidwaynewebb@yahoo.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition Feb. 4, 2011.
To say that we all now need to be more vigilent about our safety in Mexico, because of ONE unfortunate incident, is just ridiculous. I live here in Chapala, and am undoubtedly MUCH safer than I would ever be in Dallas. We already have enough
bad publicity because of the drug wars that American Addicts necessitate at our border. Most of which is in isolated places….not in Puerto Vallarta, and not here at Lake Chapala. Better if you write articles about how unsafe Dallas is by comparison. Thank you !
I view a home invasion where the armed robbers tied-up, robbed and executed the owner to be much more than an “unfortunate incident.” My point is that people need to maintain the same sort of vigilance in Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Lake Chapala and everywhere else in Mexico that they do in Dallas, Houston, LA or where ever. People just seem to get a little too comfortable in Mexico for their own good. There are lots of drugs in Puerto Vallarta (and likely in Lake Chapala), and there is always a danger that violence could erupt there as well. It is unfortunate that people always start worrying more about “bad publicity” than they do in promoting safety.
I guess I missed your point; that we need to be just as vigilent in Mexico as we are in the U.S., instead of being complacent about our security here. I don’t know anybody here in Mexico who is complacent about their security, but still it’s a good point.
One part of the story that seems to be missing however, is that when old, gay men mess around with little boys….they are playing with fire…in more ways than one. All of us need to be more responsible role models for the way the world views us, instead of being pedophiles. That is not good PR for our community, and as we see, it can be very dangerous.
I am unaware of that aspect to the story as regards such involvement with the suspects by any American and would not want to suggest that is in fact the case. But certainly such activity is a recipe for disaster for anyone where ever they live.
David, I only took your article to be a warning to be careful wherever you are. Since my original story, I’ve heard some insinuations about the intent of the people who took the two teens in. Also, I have heard that the FBI has sent down an investigator since the apparent perpetrators as well as the victim were American citizens.
One thing that was implied in my original story but not expressed was the speed with which local police made an arrest working closely with local, mostly American, residents. It’s not the story we hear in the U.S. about Mexican police. Simply excellent police work.
And Bentley, if you know Bob, Alan’s partner, I hope neighbors are looking in on him. He is in his 80s. Finding a partner murdered and putting the ransacked house back together would be difficult for someone any age.
A very important cautionary story. I have gone to Puerto Vallarta for years and have a time-share condo there. I was there last June, for a week. Setting around the Apache Bar with fellow travelers and at Blue Chairs on the beach, this topic came up frequently. Almost everyone had a story to share regarding one like yours or a close call. I have always felt safe there but I agree that you cannot let your gaurd down. There are people here in Dallas and Mexico that just don’t care. Please be careful.