[15][1], In June 2019, Alissa's half-sister Sarah Turney, who was 12 in 2001, began a podcast called Voices for Justice that explored Alissa's disappearance and the subsequent police investigation. Learn more on The Deck Investigates.Now available to binge wherever you get your podcasts. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. On Tuesday, a police spokeswoman also declined to answer that question. She worked at the fast food restaurant Jack in the Box, and had a boyfriend. Riah Matthews 5 min read June 20, 2020 - 11:24AM Although some of her memories are fuzzy, time has a tendency to do that, Sarah Turney still remembers the day her 17-year-old sister Alissa mysteriously disappeared. During the search, investigators also found 19 high-caliber assault rifles, two handmade silencers, a van filled with gasoline cans and 26 handmade explosive devices filled with gunpowder and roofing nails. And Im determined to give her that.. Michael Turney has been indicted by a grand jury in the murder of his stepdaughter Alissa Turney, who has been missing from Phoenix, Arizona since May 17, 2001. Your house is being raided Also, your father probably molested your sister.. Alissa Turney was a junior in high school when she vanished in 2001. Why many women still shy away from telling people they used an egg donor to conceive. Alissa Turney disappeared in 2001, when she was 17. Pharrell and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week. Sarah Turney, your perseverance and commitment to finding justice for your sister Alissa is a testament to the love of a sister, Adel said. At the time, there were no signs of foul play or exigency based on the fact Alissa was 17 years old and had no mental/physical health issues, Sgt. I realize its not the ending we want, but we just want her body back. Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission. By all rights, the story of Alissa Turney's disappearance should have begun on May 17, 2001, the final day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix. Omg thank you. To date, she has over 1 million followers on TikTok alone. According to the New York Times, Detective William Anderson of the Phoenix Police Department said last week that in 2008 additional information led investigators to conduct over 200 interviews with people who knew Alissa. Instead, they took over her life. I still think of her as my tough older sister who taught me to be tough. It took almost 20 years but we did it., On her podcast, Sarah tearfully added, Without you guys, this would have never happened. But after he got out of prison in 2017, Sarah recorded one of their conversations, asking him what happened to her sister. She plans to attend every court hearing, she said just as she did a decade ago, when her father was on trial for the explosives possession charge. She told me she was afraid of our father and wanted to leave, James told Dateline. MORE: Doubts about dedicated stepfather mount in 'runaway' case Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. independent local journalism in Phoenix. From strappy pieces for yoga to utilitarian bounce minimizers, weve got you covered. In 2001, Mike Turney reported to Phoenix, Arizona police that his 17-year-old step-daughter, Alissa, had run away to California. A sister's bond is like no other. By 2001, Alissa was a junior in high school. Sergeant Cox told Dateline that allegations of sexual abuse by Michael Turney prompted investigators to focus on him after speaking to several people in 2008. It is possible that someone has information that would help investigators solve this case, Sgt. Sarah, who was 12 years old at the time, was finishing her last day of 7th grade with a class field trip to a nearby water park. In May of 2020, she began making videos on the popular video app TikTok that focused on the case. Michael Turney after his arrest in August 2020. #justiceforalissa Never give up hope that you can get justice. Sergeant Cox told Dateline that during the search at Turneys home authorities located a 98-page manifesto, titled "Diary of a Madman Martyr." Voices for Justice: The Story of Alissa Turney Voices for Justice True Crime Voices for Justice is written, produced, and, hosted by Sarah Turney. Turney was arrested on Thursday in Mesa, Arizona and charged with second degree murder. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. But I turned out looking like Carol Brady.. According to the Phoenix Police, detectives with the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit questioned Hymer, but it was determined that Hymers description of Alissa was not viable and his story was false. Her sister used social media to arrest the man who killed her. In 2009, Michael sat for an interview with ABC News, in which John Quinones ran through some of the things Alissas friends had told police about her stepfather. Its time for everyone to have some peace.. It was the last day of school for students in Phoenix, Arizona May 17, 2001. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. But Alissa was nowhere to be found. Alissa Turney (born April 3, 1984)[1] was an American 17-year-old girl who was last seen in the Phoenix, Arizona area on May 17, 2001. The document goes on to state that Turney planned to blow up the union hall in revenge and kill himself in the process. It took me a very, very long time to come to that conclusion, and there was so much guilt there when I did., Ms. Turneys posts have suggested that her campaign took an emotional toll on her. Before long, they discovered some alarming details about her stepfather, Michael. On May 17, 2001, 17-year-old Alissa left Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona, in the middle of the day. Doubts about dedicated stepfather mount in runaway case, Interview with her sister Sarah Turney about her sister, the case, and her work with the. James, who is 10 years older than Alissa, spoke to her just a couple of months before she disappeared. She died just a year later, when Alissa was only 8 years old. Is It Ever Okay to Ask Someone Where Theyre From?. Anyone can read what you share. Alissa Turney and her younger sister, Sarah. The elder Turney, who is facing second-degree murder charges in Alissa's death, was arrested in Mesa, about 19 miles southeast of Phoenix, Thursday afternoon. Finding the words to explain the unspeakable. It took almost 20 years but we did it., At the press conference on Thursday, Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel gave credit to Sarah for helping to solve Alissa's case and for never giving up on it, calling Sarah's search for justice a testament to love of a sister.. Something was not right with him, James said. Lana Saint Clair found herself living among 4,000 pieces of clothing shed thrifted with the intention of reselling. He also insisted that he didnt do a damned thing to [his] daughter., But in old footage and recordings Sarah has shared to TikTok shows Michael calling Alissa a moron when she calls him a pervert, and telling her school (erroneously) that she had a mild form of retardation., Despite a five-year age gap, Sarah told the Times that she and her sister developed a tighter relationship as they got older. Authorities initially. It is call Voices for Justice and you can find it on all major platforms. Years after Alissa Turneys disappearance on the last day of her junior year of high school in 2001, her sister Sarah wondered if shed done more than simply run away from home as her father, Michael Turney, and the police believed. Investigators initially thought Alissa Turney, seen here at 16, might have run away from home. The sisters lost their mother to cancer when they were young and were mostly raised by Mr. Turney, Ms. Turneys biological father and Alissas stepfather and legal guardian. I take a popular concept or sound and try to apply it to Alissas case.. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. The police suspected foul play in Alissa's case, but as of now, they have not convicted anyone regarding her disappearance. This is not going away and Im going to make sure it never does. Nineteen years later, Sarah, now in her 30s, spends most of her time searching for answers about what happened to her sister and advocating for justice in her case. "I'm shaking and I'm crying. He later admitted that he might have been mistaken. An average student, she had a boyfriend, a part-time job at Jack-In-The-Box, and dreams beyond her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. Sarah wanted to reach a young audience that would share widely, and told Elle she tried to present Alissas case as objectively as she could, including as little of my own speculation as possible and just present[ing] the facts. And she appears to have had access to some facts police didnt, as Michael never agreed to speak with them. Friends and family who had allegedly never been initially contacted by police in 2001 began to make disturbing allegations to authorities concerning Turneys relationship with his stepdaughter. [6]. [2][13], From July 2017 to January 2019, Phoenix resident and freelance journalist Ottavia Zappala released a podcast called Missing Alissa that explored the case, and interviewed some of Alissa's friends and family. It finally forced them to look at my sisters case, Sarah said. She pored over old home videos and posted footage on TikTok. They did not find any videos from the day she disappeared. Her stepfather Michael Turney was arrested Thursday afternoon in Mesa, Arizona. April 3, 1984. Willy P and I chat about the missing persons case of Alissa Turney. I was under the impression she was going to be back. The girls mother, Barbara Strahm, died of cancer when Alissa was just eight years old and Michael legally adopted her. In 2010, Mr. Turney pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices, a felony, and was sentenced to a decade in prison. and help keep the future of New Times, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. The phone was on the dresser, along with a note in Alissas loopy handwriting, Sarah said. Sources: Voices for Justice Podcast. About a week after Alissa disappeared, Michael Turney told the Phoenix Police he got a call from a pay phone in California. In an interview with police, one friend said that Alissa had told him her stepfather had tried sexually abusing her when she was younger. Including some early deals from Amazon Pet Day, Brooklinen bedding at the cheapest weve ever seen it, and jeans you can dance in. Sarah told Dateline that it wasnt unusual for kids who lived in their area to want to head to California. He said the conversation was scrambled, but he realized it was Alissa and said that she told him, Leave me alone, before hanging up. The podcast gives an intimate look at Sarah and Alissas family history, events leading up to Alissas disappearance and a timeline of what has happened in the years since. Ms. Turney did not only campaign for justice, she also became an amateur sleuth. She had lived with her 12-year-old sister, Sarah, and their father Michael Turney, who had legally adopted Alissa after the sisters' mother Barbara Strahm died of cancer in 1992, per the Phoenix New Times.Sarah and Michael found Alissa's normally tidy room . Now Her Father Is Charged With Homicide. Sarah Turney. Alissa Turney was last seen at her home in the area of Bell Road and 34th Street in Phoenix, Arizona on May 17, 2001. Your email address will not be published. [1][8][14] They also found a manifesto outlining his plans for a rampage against the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers building in Phoenix. Sarah told Dateline she finds support in the online true-crime community and has attended events like CrimeCon, which she said has helped her forge ahead with Alissas case. But when she did the jump, instead of Alissa bouncing off, she did. Maricopa County Attorneys OfficeMichael Turney after his arrest in August 2020. TikTok blew up like crazy, Sarah told the Phoenix New Times. Alissa Turney's body has still not been found after 19 years. Alissas case remained classified as a runaway and police said the call was never traced or verified. In 2006, a Florida mans confession brought Alissas case back into the spotlight. And then when I found out she was missing, we 100 percent believed she had run away. On that day she poked her head into her boyfriends woodworking class at Paradise Valley High School and said her stepfather was taking her out of school early, the Maricopa County Attorneys Office later explained. Michael Turney also had three sons, who were already out of the house by that time. Sergeant Cox confirms Michael Turney remains the only person of interest in Alissas case. It was unclear how Ms. Turneys online efforts affected the case, and Detective Anderson did not say what evidence prompted the homicide charge this month. Dateline NBC attempted to reach Michael Turney for comment, but was unsuccessful. [1][8][7] Later, he and Sarah found a note in her bedroom, allegedly written by her, claiming that she was running away to California. When they tried to call her phone again, they heard it vibrate in the room. local news and culture. Alissa Turner disappeared nearly two decades ago on the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona Alissa was last seen at her home in Phoenix, Arizona on May 17, 2001 - the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School. He later admitted that he might have been mistaken. New evidence suggests the now-infamous case is even darker than it looks. The totality of circumstances known to police prompted the focus on Michael Turney as the suspect, Sgt. It was the largest stockpile of explosives discovered in Phoenix Police Department history, according to The Arizona Republic. The totality of circumstances known to police prompted the focus on Michael Turney as the suspect, Sgt. Michael Turney had reported Alissa missing on May 17 to the Phoenix Police Department. [12][13][17][19][18], After over 30 episodes about Alissa's case, in January 2021 the podcast transitioned covering other murder and missing persons cases in order to not jeopardize the ongoing investigation into Alissa's case. This process has been absolute hell. A lawyer for Mr. Turney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Police initially thought Alissa had run away to California. [6][8] However, she had left her cell phone and other personal items behind. She got away from him and thats what she wanted. Sarah is seeking justi. Sarah said they found Alissas usually tidy room a mess. The Phoenix Police Department Missing Persons Unit is investigating. According to the document, Turney, who worked as an electrician in the 1980s and complained about workplace conditions, accused the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of being involved in the alleged kidnapping and murder of Alissa. She had so many options of places to go. Authorities initially treated Alissa as a runaway, but foul play is now suspected. She deserves her day in court. Michael says he and his other daughter, Sarah, found a note from Alissa in her handwriting saying she had ran away to California. Also, where was her brother John living at, or if Michael didnt want her to live in his house or if he didnt want Alissa to live with her aunt in California then why didnt he just let her go live with her brother or why didnt they try to find her biological father, and let her live with her biological father or at least let her live with her brother or at least let her live with her Aunt in CaliforniaI mean it was stupid for Michael Turney, her stepfather, to just end her life when he could have just asked another family member to let Alissa live with them. Cause. During the press conference, officials credited Alissa's sister, Sarah, for her perseverance in this case. Sarah is an Advocate, Creator, and host of the true-crime podcast Voices for Justice. In the manifesto, Michael wrote of his desire to attack the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, whom he claimed had abducted and murdered Alissa. Thats all I ever wanted, is for them both to have their day in court.. Sarah said she remembers Alissa trying to give her a haircut, that was trendy at the time. [8][1], Turney filed a missing persons report on May 17, 2001, but in the immediate days following Alissa's disappearance, police did not suspect foul play and no police investigation took place. They said that you were obsessed with her, Quinones stated. 23K followers. Police believed something was wrong because she left behind her cellphone, her hairbrush and makeup and never touched any of the $1,800 in her bank account. Almost two decades after 17-year-old Alissa Turney disappeared, her sister Sarah discovered something about the day she went missing. But 7 years later, a serial killer comes forward with a story that would launch an investigation into her disappearance and make her family fear that Alissa had been a victim of foul play. I feel like there was not another platform where I could be as expressive.. [17] In April 2020, Sarah began posting about the case on TikTok, garnering millions of views. According to Sarah, Alissa was close to her family, her friends and her boyfriend, and although she dreamed of living a new life, she never mentioned running away. Go to getroman.com/mailtime to get your first month of Swipes for just $5The full interview with Alissa Turney's sister, Sarah Turney. This article "Disappearance of Alissa Turney" is from Wikipedia. Ive received more interest in this case from that app in the past month than the last 10 years, Sarah told Dateline in June. Alissa Turney disappeared in 2001, when she was 17. Now, Sarah says that all she hopes is for a fair trial for Michael and Alissa Turney. I feel terrible I wasnt able to do more when I was younger.. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. It was a few months after his release from prison. It was just one of those moments Ill always remember, Sarah said. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Hes been arrested. Something wasnt right.. The 21 Best Sports Bras for Every Workout. I was prepped to take care of them.. Love Hiking in Arizona? Her sister, Sarah Turney, told Dateline in June that she remembers her sister being excited for summer and was planning to attend a graduation party later that evening. In April, however, Sarah created a TikTok, which is when her campaign really gained attention: at time of writing, she had 1 million followers. So she did. He was sentenced to the maximum term of 10 years in federal prison, but was released in 2017. But he wasnt like that with me.. In December 2008, police executed search warrants at the house where Alissa had lived with her half-sister and stepfather, according to Sgt. When Sarah asks, Why dont you give them to me now? Michael replies, Because youve got em now., To the New York Times, Sarah explained, That dark humor of TikTok really just lent itself to me. All rights reserved. His step-daughter Alissa disappeared nearly 20 years ago. A Phoenix man charged in the murder of his missing stepdaughter is asking for his case . This is not going away and Im going to make sure it never does. Alissas brother, James, who now lives Oregon with his family, told Dateline he just wants his sister back. Turney. Ms. Turneys social media campaign kicked off around the time of his release. Because of that love, Alissas light has never gone out and she lives on in the stories and photos youve shared with the community, Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel said at a press conference on August 20, announcing the indictment. Alissa was entered into NCIC as soon as the report was taken. Alissa Turney was last seen on May 17, 2001 in Phoenix, Arizona. Wedding & Marriage / Husband / Boyfriend / Dating. Alissa Turney, who disappeared without a trace in 2001. California was this beautiful dream that many people here wanted, she told Dateline in June. Episode Summary. But over the years, he had so many renditions of what happened that day. On Twitter, she wrote that she was shaking and crying after the indictment was announced, and she has no plans to abandon her cause now. Weve been working on this for years. The actress dodged the question while rocking a noticeable piece of new jewelry on the, How a Shopping Addiction Became a Hoarding Problem. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix She also said Alissa left behind all her makeup, her Nokia cell phone and money, which Sarah believes she would have taken with her had she been running away. Be there at my deathbed, Sarah, and Ill give you all the honest answers you want to hear, Michael Turney tells her in the clip. Or, look into the eerie story of Brittanee Drexel, who disappeared while on spring break in South Carolina. After reading about the disappearance of Alissa Turney, discover the strange case of Amy Lynn Bradley, who vanished from a cruise ship in 1998. Cox. This page is not available in other languages. Along with Alissa, Strahm had son John, 10, from a different biological father. But after I pushed him for answers about Alissa, he finally told me that he would give me all the honest answers on his deathbed. In October of 2017, Sarah sat down with her father for the first time in years. I didnt really feel the need to tattle as much, she said. She never contacted friends or any other family members, either. Sarah said she crashed full-force into the ladder theyd used to climb up to the roof. At the time of her disappearance, she lived with her stepfather Michael Turney and half-sister Sarah Turney. Your email address will not be published. These leather-alternative brands are hoping that you will. Sarah danced to The Sign by Ace of Base in one video beneath text that reads, When police say your only hope of getting your pedophile/domestic terrorist father tried for your sisters murder is media exposure but you have crippling social anxiety.. And as they began interviewing people who knew her, strange details came out about Michael: That he set up extensive, sometimes hidden, surveillance cameras inside his home, and that he installed a passive recording device on their landline. But she never came to me. On August 20, 2020, following her fathers arrest, Sarah took to social media to announce the news to those who have been following her sisters case. She dressed me and taught me so many things.. Alissas little sister, Sarah, who is now in her 30s, has never given up her search for justice in her sisters case. [1] Simultaneously, authorities were raiding the Turney home where they seized more than two dozen improvised explosive devices, 19 firearms, two homemade silencers, and a van full of gasoline. Because of that love, Alissa's light has never gone out, she said. A note had been left behind saying she was running away to California. According to the Arizona Republic newspaper, Thomas Hymer told a prison guard he had killed Alissa Turney. It soon became apparent that Alissa Turney had not merely disappeared. In her free time, Sarah continues her search for justice in her sisters case. "He's been arrested Never give up hope that you can get justice. Sergeant Cox told Dateline that during the search at Turneys home authorities located a 98-page manifesto, titled "Diary of a Madman Martyr." Michael Roy Turney was sentenced to 10 years in prison. On Aug. 20, 2020, Michael Turney, 72, was arrested, indicted, and charged by a grand jury with second-degree murder. Per the Times, its not immediately clear what role Sarahs work played in revisiting the case, nor did police say why they were able to charge Michael after all these years. Cox said. She waged a yearslong social media campaign to encourage an investigation into the man she suspected most: her father, Michael Turney. Alissa was last seen on May 17, 2001, the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School. Now Her Father Is Charged With Homicide", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Disappearance_of_Alissa_Turney&oldid=1151594245, This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 00:49. Her younger sister, Sarah Turney, has been investigating the case on social media. Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel declined to say what led to the arrest, only that a grand jury issued the indictment. She even started a podcast called Voices for Justice about Alissas case. With a stepdad like Michael, home was the last place she wanted to be. At the time, police reportedly classified Alissa a runaway. The police determined that thered been no foul play, and even Alissas stepbrother, John who knew that Alissa was afraid of Michael accepted that shed likely fled the house after a fight with him. Im never going to give up, Sarah told Dateline. Still, ABC reported at the time, they noticed that Alissa never touched any of the money in her bank account after (allegedly) leaving home; she never used her social security number, meaning she wasnt working or enrolled in school. The document goes on to state that Turney planned to blow up the union hall in revenge and kill himself in the process. Sarah remembers Alissa being a good student, but a spirited teenager with a rebellious streak. Turney said left around 1 p.m. to run errands and to pick up Sarah from her field trip. We did it," Sarah Turney, Alissa's sister, posted on social media. On May 17, 2001, Alissa was last seen at Paradise Valley High School. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Disturbing home videos about Alissa have begun to surface on YouTube. You know, the one from Friends, Sarah laughed. For seven years, no one asked many more questions about Alissa Turney. Cox said. She even wanted a white Jeep to drive around just like Cher in the movie Clueless.. Sarah Turney spent 20 years trying to uncover the truth about her sister's disappearance. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one. Alissa never made it to that party and May 17, 2001 was the last time anyone saw her alive. Michael Turney was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his unregistered pipe bombs and was released in 2017. Sarah TurneyAlissa Turney and Sarah Turney. This week, weve rounded up the best party pics from events with Ralph Lauren and Tiffany & Co. Would You Wear a Bag Made of Cactus, Apples, or Grapes? Alissa and her stepfather, Michael Turney. I get home after work and I do research - like reading 2,000 pages of public record documents and I conduct interviews for the podcast, Sarah said. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. All I can hope for is a fair trial for Alissa and my father, she said. We did it you guys. If you asked me then if I thought my father had any involvement, I would have said no. The sisters had a five year age difference but were close. At one point, she described efforts to locate her sisters body. [16][14][17][18] She drew upon over 3,000 pages of publicly released notes and case documents from the Phoenix Police Department. After the charge against her father was announced, she posted celebratory updates to her social media accounts. Charley Project - Alissa Marie Turney; Interview with her sister Sarah Turney about her sister, the case, and her work with the Missing Alissa Podcast; Missing Alissa Podcast *Please Note* As of July 2019 Sarah Turney now runs her own podcast dedicated to the case. Hey Fashion Friend, Whats the Perfect Travel Shoe? Alissa then dared the much-younger Sarah to jump off the roof while she was still on the trampoline. Im just trying to use those TikTok algorithms to spread the word. https://charleyproject.org/case/alissa-marie-turney Alissa is my whole life. saraheturney/TikTokOne of Sarah Turneys TikToks, where she discussed details of her sisters disappearance. California was this beautiful dream that many people here wanted, Sarah said, including Alissa. This page was last edited on 25 July 2020, at 03:47. And last week, she got them. Required fields are marked *. Sarah said she was scared to jump off the roof at first, but eventually jumped. So, when Sarah's dad told her that her sister left on her own good will, she believed him.
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