A few hours into the search for the surveillance tapes and Alissa's original runaway note, investigators uncovered several homemade pipe bombs filled with gunpowder and roofing nails around the Turney home. Sources: Voices for Justice Podcast. 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. I told her she could come stay with me. As an adult, Sarah launched a podcast, a blog, a Facebook group, an Instagram account, and finally, a TikTok account airing details about her sisters relationship with their father; incriminating conversations theyd had; and interactions with law enforcement. Michael acknowledged that hed taken Alissa out of school that day. Investigators initially thought Alissa Turney, seen. Something was not right with him, James said. Become a member to support the independent voice of Phoenix That kind of jump, known as double-bouncing, usually results in the person already on the trampoline getting bounced off of it. Alissa was last seen on May 17, 2001, the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School. Anyone with information is asked to call the Phoenix Police Department Missing Persons Unit at (602) 262-6141, Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or email phoenix.tips.ppd@phoenix.gov. After the search, the case was cold for another decade. But then, on May 17, 2001, the last day of the school year, Alissa Turney vanished. I feel terrible I wasnt able to do more when I was younger.. 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. Is It Ever Okay to Ask Someone Where Theyre From?. Instead, they took over her life. Andrea Cavallier is a Digital Producer for Dateline NBC. She told me she was afraid of our father and wanted to leave, James told Dateline. 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. Alissa Turney disappeared in 2001, when she was 17. Investigators initially thought Alissa Turney, seen here at 16, might have run away from home. But Alissa was nowhere to be found. But over the years, he had so many renditions of what happened that day. Hymers story, and the attention it got, did bring renewed heat to Alissas case. Nearly two decades after 17-year-old Alissa Turney disappeared, Phoenix police have arrested the man believed to be responsible for her death. Her younger sister, Sarah Turney, has been investigating the case on social media. Cox said. Authorities initially treated Alissa as a runaway, but foul play is now suspected. This page has been accessed 10,541 times. With a stepdad like Michael, home was the last place she wanted to be. The TikTok seems to have done the trick. Alissas little sister, Sarah, who is now in her 30s, works a full-time job in marketing in Phoenix, but her day doesnt end there. When they returned home, Alissa was gone. They found multiple videotapes, dating back to the 1980s, including surveillance footage from around the house. He was always frantic about her, Sarah said. Alissa was an average student with a steady boyfriend, a part-time job at the local Jack in the Box, and a fantasy of running away from home. Dad and Sarah, When you dropped me off at school today, I decided I really am going to California, the note read. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Alissa Turney was a young American girl who disappeared in 2001 when she was 17 years old. Did TikTok Help Solve a Decades-Old Disappearance? Police initially thought Alissa had run away to California. Your perseverance and commitment to finding justice for your sister, Alissa, is a testament to the love of a sister, she said. "Alissa Turney was 17 years old went she vanished. 38 Best Sneakers for Women in Every Single Style, Im On the Hunt for the Best Sunscreens Without a White Cast, Madame Clairevoyant: Horoscopes for the Week of May 1, What to Do (and Not to Do) When Your Friend Has a Newborn, The Reality-TV Producer Sleeping With a Guitar Player, The Rivalry Between the Knicks and the Heat From the Guys Who Were There, The Knicks Vs. Heat Rivalry From the Guys Who Were There, Long Live the White House Correspondents Dinner. Turney was arrested on Thursday in Mesa, Arizona, and charged with second-degree murder, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office announced at a press conference. Im shaking and Im crying, she posted to Twitter. She even wanted a white Jeep to drive around just like Cher in the movie Clueless.. I feel like there was not another platform where I could be as expressive.. Its one of my favorite memories.. Alissa Turney, 17, disappeared in May 2001. Posts Videos Tagged. Something wasnt right.. Sarah told Dateline she remembers her father being frantic about finding Alissa. Turney was left to raise two young girls alone, and as Alissa entered her teens, they experienced serious friction. But over the years, he had so many renditions of what happened that day. He said he left to run errands and when he returned that afternoon, Alissa was gone. It was the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. Alissa then dared the much-younger Sarah to jump off the roof while she was still on the trampoline. He monitored her phone calls, set up home surveillance cameras, and even filmed her while she was at work. And in one home video from 1997 that Sarah posted on TikTok in summer 2020, Alissa can be heard saying, Sarah, dads a pervert. In another TikTok, Sarah secretly recorded her father and asked him point-blank about Alissa Turneys disappearance. She left $1,800 in her bank account and left behind her makeup, hairbrush, house keys and cell phone. I told her she could come stay with me. But she just vanished.. In 2001, Alissa Turney went missing. Sarah said she remembers Alissa trying to give her a haircut, that was trendy at the time. Ms. Turney subverted popular memes like put a finger down and interior crocodile alligator to push for charges against her father, eventually gaining more than a million followers. To most, it looked like a clear case of a teenage runaway. He claimed that he took her out to lunch to celebrate the end of her junior year but that he and Alissa had fought. 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. In my heart, I feel certain that Alissa is gone, Ms. Turney said. [1] However, when Phoenix police questioned Hymer, they ultimately determined that he had not had any contact with Alissa, and he admitted he might have confused her with a different victim. We did it you guys. She has a small scar on her chin. But when a murderer named Thomas Hymer falsely confessed to killing Alissa in 2006, the police began to reconsider her disappearance. Alissa Turney disappeared in 2001, when she was 17. Now, her stepfather, Michael Turney, has been charged with second-degree murder, according to the Arizona Republic. Michael Turney, a former police officer, called in a missing persons report that night. It was the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School. He later admitted that he might have been mistaken. The 4 Jacket Trends Well Be Wearing This Spring. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. What Is Michael Turney Hiding? 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. Alissa was extremely sweet strong and sweet, Ms. Turney said. local news and culture. Or to her aunts house in California. The police suspected foul play in Alissa's case, but as of now, they have not convicted anyone regarding her disappearance. Her stepfather Michael Turney was arrested Thursday afternoon in Mesa, Arizona. This is not going away and Im going to make sure it never does. 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. Cox told Dateline. Alissa disappeared almost two decades ago Alissa Turney According to information provided by Phoenix Police officials back in 2008, Alissa Turney, then 17, disappeared in 2001, at the end. Sarah also spoke to ABC News in 2009, at the time standing by her father's innocence. At one point, she described efforts to locate her sisters body. Ms. Turney did not only campaign for justice, she also became an amateur sleuth. He also said that he had not killed his stepdaughter. Last month, Sarah began making videos on the popular video app TikTok., Believe it or not, it has become an important outlet for Alissas story. The victim's sister, Sarah Turney, revealed to Dateline that Alissa was excited for summer and planning to attend a graduation party that evening (via NBC News ). Background Alissa Turney lived in Paradise Valley, Arizona. But as years passed with no. Sergeant Cox told Dateline that during the search at Turneys home authorities located a 98-page manifesto, titled "Diary of a Madman Martyr." "I've never heard so much concern in her voice, Sarah said. But this information would not be included in the investigation until years later. Michael Turney was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his unregistered pipe bombs and was released in 2017. On Aug. 20, 2020, Michael Turney, 72, was arrested, indicted, and charged by a grand jury with second-degree murder. Along with Alissa, Strahm had son John, 10, from a different biological father. After reading about the disappearance of Alissa Turney, discover the strange case of Amy Lynn Bradley, who vanished from a cruise ship in 1998. Of course we fought like normal sisters over toys, over hair, over clothes, Sarah said. Age / How old / Birthday / Date of Birth / DOB. "Have you seen this child? Her stepfather told police shed run away, but for her little sister Sarah Turney, 12 at the time the story never quite squared. She never contacted friends or any other family members, either. At the time of her disappearance, she lived with her stepfather Michael Turney and half-sister Sarah Turney. 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. [1] She went missing on her last day of her junior year in high school after she was picked up by her step father, Michael Roy Turney. 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. Omg thank you. "He's been arrested Never give up hope that you can get justice. Quickly, the Phoenix Police identified their only person of interest, Alissa's step father, Michael Roy Turney. 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. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, "Ottavia Zappala: A True Crime Reporter in Search of Justice", "She is My Hero: Sarah Turney on Her Missing Sister, Alissa", "Sisters of missing Arizona children find friendship, form bond to fight for justice", "Stepfather charged in 19-year-old disappearance of Paradise Valley teen", "Missing Person Suspicious Circumstance Alissa Turney Silent Witness", "TikTok Helped Solve A 19-Year-Old Missing Persons Case", "Missing girl's stepdad gets 10 years in union hall bomb plot", "Did TikTok Help Solve a Decades-Old Disappearance? [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. But as Sarah played at the water park with her classmates on that hot Arizona day back in 2001, she had no idea that her familys life was about to change forever. Around the time Michael Turney left prison in 2017, Sarah made Facebook, Instagram, Twitter accounts dedicated to Alissa Turney. "I'm shaking and I'm crying. Michael was, by all accounts, much harder on Alissa than he was on Sarah or any of his other children, surveilling her while she worked her job at Jack in the Box (per footage he recorded, and Sarah later posted to YouTube) and keeping her under tight control. [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. To us, this is a family tragedy that tore us apart. Alissa Turney and her younger sister, Sarah. And living with it every day. Alissas case remained classified as a runaway and police said the call was never traced or verified. Her boyfriend revealed that Michael had tried fooling around with her. And most disturbingly of all, Alissa had told friends that shed once woken up tied to a chair, gagged, with Michael on top of her. The girls mother, Barbara Strahm, died of cancer when Alissa was just eight years old and Michael legally adopted her. Lana Saint Clair found herself living among 4,000 pieces of clothing shed thrifted with the intention of reselling. Hes been arrested. Michael Turney has exhibited an apparent obsession with his stepdaughter, Alissa, police noted in 2008. But as years passed with no sign of her, Sarah Turney, now 31, came to believe that Alissa was not a runaway but a victim of homicide. All I can hope for is a fair trial for Alissa and my father, she said. Michael Turney had reported Alissa missing on May 17 to the Phoenix Police Department. A staff writer for All That's Interesting, Kaleena Fraga has also had her work featured in The Washington Post and Gastro Obscura, and she published a book on the Seattle food scene for the Eat Like A Local series. Cause. 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. But the need for answers and justice never went away for Sarah Turney, Alissa's younger sister. 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. Just give us our sister back, James said. But she never came to me. 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. How did a murder in a small town with eye witnesses go unsolved for nearly four decades? Something wasnt right.. Its all about Alissa. Now Her Father Is Charged With Homicide. On Thursday, her stepfather, Michael Turney, was arrested, and faces charges of second-degree murder. He served seven years. The list of its authors can be seen in its historicaland/or the page Edithistory:Disappearance of Alissa Turney. Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission. [2] There have been no confirmed communication from Alissa since she was last seen at school that day. Mr. Turney has been accused of abusing, surveilling and controlling Alissa, and Ms. Turney has publicly shared some of the video footage he recorded. Sergeant Cox told Dateline that during the search at Turneys home authorities located a 98-page manifesto, titled "Diary of a Madman Martyr." On that day she poked her head into her boyfriend's woodworking class at Paradise Valley High School and said . Sarah said as soon as she started screaming, though, her sister told her to be quiet so they wouldnt get in trouble. 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. She told me she was afraid of our father and wanted to leave, James told Dateline. At the time, police determined there was no foul play involved and believed she was a runaway. statement. The actress dodged the question while rocking a noticeable piece of new jewelry on the, How a Shopping Addiction Became a Hoarding Problem. [12], On May 24, 2001, Turney claimed that he received a phone call from a California number where Alissa swore at him before hanging up. Doubts about dedicated stepfather mount in runaway case, Interview with her sister Sarah Turney about her sister, the case, and her work with the. Goodman had been found the day before, strangled, stabbed and wedged under a bed in a Fort Lauderdale hotel. 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. This process has been absolute hell. She participated in several podcasts, including one called Missing Alissa, hosted by freelance writer Ottavia Zappala. [1], Alissa's case was featured on an episode of 20/20 in October 2014, called "What Happened to Alissa?" Yet Alissa left her cell phone and makeup behind, details that would later strike investigators as odd. Im going to abandon all fear of police retaliation, all fear of this destroying my career, and all fear of this consuming and destroying my life. Sarah told Dateline she went to authorities with the information, but they told her without an official confession from him to police, or a body, there was nothing they could do. If you asked me then if I thought my father had any involvement, I would have said no. TikTok blew up like crazy, Sarah told the Phoenix New Times. Here Are Five Etiquette Tips You Should Know, 10 of the World's Most Famous Conjoined Twins, How Intimacy Coordinators Make Phoenix Stages Safer for Race Issues, Sex Scenes, and More, Heres Why Mesa Game Convention ZapCon Has Pressed the Pause Button Until 2024, No 'Paws' in Service After La Gattara Cat Cafe's Founder Passes the Torch. 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. I was prepped to take care of them.. Maricopa County Attorneys OfficeAlissa Turney was a junior in high school when she vanished in 2001. Thank you for being my family and thank you for caring about Alissa as much as I do. We did it," Sarah Turney, Alissa's sister, posted on social media. People who are frequently othered in our culture will definitely know when youre just trying to sniff out their ethnicity. Ive received more interest in this case from that app in the past month than the last 10 years, Sarah told Dateline in June. Almost two decades after 17-year-old Alissa Turney disappeared, her sister Sarah discovered something about the day she went missing. The sisters had a five year age difference but were close. Now, I need to continue to be tough and use that to fight for the justice she deserves. It was devastating and frustrating., Sarah said she was told the next best step to take was to seek help from the media. Sarah Turney, your perseverance and commitment to finding justice for your sister Alissa is a testament to the love of a sister. In response to questions about whether he had been a controlling parent, he said that he had been trying to keep Alissa safe. Sarah TurneyAlissa Turney and Sarah Turney. Or, look into the eerie story of Brittanee Drexel, who disappeared while on spring break in South Carolina. Nearly 20 years after 17-year-old Alissa Turney disappeared from her home in Phoenix, Arizona in 2001, her stepfather Michael Turney has been indicted by a grand jury in her murder. MORE: Doubts about dedicated stepfather mount in 'runaway' case 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. California was this beautiful dream that many people here wanted, she told Dateline in June. He faces second-degree murder charges. When they returned home, he said Alissa was still angry and went to her room. In October of 2017, Sarah sat down with her father for the first time in years. Always had to know where she was and what she was doing. Now, Sarah says that all she hopes is for a fair trial for Michael and Alissa Turney. She worked at the fast food restaurant Jack in the Box, and had a boyfriend. Cox said. That dark humor of TikTok really just lent itself to me, she said. The totality of circumstances known to police prompted the focus on Michael Turney as the suspect, Sgt. After the charge against her father was announced, she posted celebratory updates to her social media accounts. At Mr. Turneys residence in Phoenix, they found 26 pipe bombs and three incendiary devices, according to an F.B.I. Alissa Turney went missing from Phoenix, Arizona on May 17th, 2001 at the age of 17. By 2001, Alissa was a junior in high school. Terms of Service apply. This article "Disappearance of Alissa Turney" is from Wikipedia. However, there is a social movement growing to get justice for Alissa Turney and her death as many believe Michael is directly responsible for Alissa Turney's disappearance. Her stepfather also said he got a call from her a week later, which would have been the last known contact. I still think of her as my tough older sister who taught me to be tough. Now, nearly two decades after Alissa disappeared, Mr. Turney, 72, has been charged with second-degree homicide. Im shaking and Im crying, Sarah Turney wrote on Twitter that evening. She Sought Justice on TikTok. Alissa went missing from Phoenix, Arizona in 2001 when she was 17 years old. 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. And Sarah Turney, frustrated and heartbroken, was told that the best way to keep her sisters case alive was to build a following on social media. Dad, I took $300 from you. New evidence suggests the now-infamous case is even darker than it looks. And then when I found out she was missing, we 100 percent believed she had run away. Ive received more interest in this case from that app in the past month than the last 10 years, Sarah said. Omg, thank you. But its a victory for Sarah nonetheless. And itll never stop.. It was a few months after his release from prison. Conveniently, the recorder had been turned off on the only morning he said Alissa had called after disappearing, Michael said. By the time she was 12, she added, I didnt really feel the need to tattle as much. Michael Turney had always kept an abnormally close eye on Alissa, his stepdaughter. [Alissa] even wanted a white Jeep to drive around just like Cher in the movie Clueless. Plus, they had an aunt in California, and had talked about visiting her. Alissa was entered into NCIC as soon as the report was taken. It was the last day of classes for sisters Alissa and Sarah Turney. The body of Alissa Turney has yet to be found after 19 years. Before long, they discovered some alarming details about her stepfather, Michael. Alissas stepfather, Michael Roy Turney, told authorities he took Alissa out of school early and they went out to lunch, then came home. These leather-alternative brands are hoping that you will. Thats all I ever wanted, is for them both to have their day in court. She says she will attend every hearing. 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. Both Sarah and James told Dateline they believe Alissa would have contacted someone at some point after she left. But as each year passed with no sightings, Alissa just leaving to start a new life seemed less likely. Michael and Sarah found a note in her unusually messy bedroom that said shed run away from home to live in California. I still think of her as my tough older sister who taught me to be tough. She deserves her day in court. On May 17, 2001, 17-year-old Alissa left Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona, in the middle of the day. He said, Be at the deathbed, Sarah, and I will give you all the honest answers you want to hear. He also said he would confess to everything if the state agreed to give him a lethal injection within 10 days.. Maricopa County Attorneys OfficeMichael Turney after his arrest in August 2020. I never wanted to get on media, I never wanted to make my own podcast, but we did it, you guys.. It was later determined that Thomas Hymers description of Alissa was not viable and his story was false. But it also uncovered something else 30 improvised explosive devices, 19 high-caliber assault rifles, two handmade silencers, and a 98-page manifesto entitled Diary of a Madman Martyr.. So we can sleep at night. Alissa Turney disappeared in May 2001, the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix. Learn more on The Deck Investigates.Now available to binge wherever you get your podcasts. Privacy Policy and Pharrell and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week. Police also found all inbound and outbound calls were passively recorded. They did not find any videos from the day she disappeared. The totality of circumstances known to police prompted the focus on Michael Turney as the suspect, Sgt. It is call Voices for Justice and you can find it on all major platforms. [4], Numerous media outlets have covered this story, an extensive list can be found at justiceforalissa.com[5] Alissa's sister is also creating a podcast about Alissa's story, Voices for Justice. He went from house to house looking for her, he passed out fliers and traveled to California multiple times throughout the year, telling everyone he was looking for her.
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