Joseph was born in Canoga Park, California. He was raised in West Hills and Oak Park, California, where he attended Brookside Elementary School in Oak Park. He then attended middle school and high school in Carlsbad, California. In the summer of 2009, Joe attended a session at Berkeley University which was prepared specifically for students entering college who had Asperger's Syndrome.
Joseph had just begun taking college courses at Pierce J.C. in Woodland Hills, California.
He had a love of fine food and cooking, and recently celebrated his 19th birthday at The Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga, dining on a chef's sampler eight-course meal. He loved it.
Joe was an avid reader and was extremely proud of his rote memory; he would spend hours at Barnes & Noble Bookstores. Cooking fine cuisine was his avocation but science was his true vocation. Joe also loved the outdoors, taking walks, hiking and riding his bike.
Joseph is survived by his parents, Jennifer McQuaig and Sayer Turner, his brother Deseon, sisters Da'Jay and Derra, his grandparents Mike and Terri Siegel, his Uncle Brian, his Great-Aunt Sandra Gilmore, his Great-Grandmother Nadia Gilmore, his Great-Great Grandfather Richard Ripp, as well as the entire Siegel, Gilmore and Turner families.