"No matter to whom I turned, nobody in the crowd had a clue to what was going on."

"Turned" is used in the phrase "to whom I turned," meaning the speaker sought help, advice or information from different people. "Discussed" is incorrect because it would require a direct object e.g., "discussed the issue with someone". "Asked" doesn't fit because the sentence structure implies seeking help in a broader sense, not just asking questions. "Contacted" doesn't fit the context of a crowd where immediate face-to-face interaction is implied.