In an interview with ABC News in 2009, Mr. Turney suggested that the explosives were not meant to hurt innocent people. When they tried to call her phone again, they heard it vibrate in the room. But she just vanished.. 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 still think of her as my tough older sister who taught me to be tough. Dateline NBC attempted to reach Michael Turney for comment, but was unsuccessful. Her stepfather also said he got a call from her a week later, which would have been the last known contact. Will Andersen and Stuart Somershoe, who were tasked with investigating the seven-year-long mystery. 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. [1][9][13] He had been in prison since 2003 for an unrelated murder. So we can sleep at night. Get the latest updates in news, food, music and culture, and receive special offers direct to your inbox. 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. But Ms. Turney knows the story is far from over. Her stepfather Michael Turney was arrested Thursday afternoon in Mesa, Arizona. In 2008, the Missing Persons Unit Detectives began to investigate further information obtained in the case.. The Phoenix Police Department Missing Persons Unit decided to reinvestigate Alissa Turneys case in 2008 and interviewed 200 people who had known her. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Its time for everyone to have some peace.. 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. This passion you have demonstrated to her during your journey is something that will keep Alissas memory alive forever.. Both Sarah and James told Dateline they believe Alissa would have contacted someone at some point after she left. Experts weigh in on what to wear to keep you cool. 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. Im never going to give up, Sarah told Dateline. It was the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School.. Authorities also found surveillance equipment inside her house, which her stepfather admitted to setting up, for what he claimed to be safety reasons and not to spy on his children. 1,666 following. statement. Authorities initially. Sarah Turney told Dateline she remembers her sister being excited for summer and planning to attend a graduation party later that evening. She never contacted friends or any other family members, either. Alissa's case has remained in the national . Now, Sarah says that all she hopes is for a fair trial for Michael and Alissa Turney. Omg, thank you. A note had been left behind saying she was running away to California. 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. He is due back in court next Friday. This post deals with child abuse and might be triggering for some readers. An arrest was made in the cold case of Alissa Turney. If you didnt like Alissa and if he didnt want her in his house then why didnt he just call her Aunt that lives in California to come to get her, instead of killing her. [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. It was the largest stockpile of explosives discovered in Phoenix Police Department history, according to The Arizona Republic. She has a small scar on her chin. Ive received more interest in this case from that app in the past month than the last 10 years, Sarah told Dateline in June. Sarah, you said you really wanted me gone now you have it. In 2010, Mr. Turney pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices, a felony, and was sentenced to a decade in prison. She had blonde highlights in her brown hair. In April, however, Sarah created a TikTok, which is when her campaign really gained attention: at time of writing, she had 1 million followers. April 3, 1984. Hes been arrested. Something was not right with him, James said. Background Alissa Turney lived in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Im shaking and Im crying, she posted to Twitter. That dark humor of TikTok really just lent itself to me, she said. At the time of his arrest, Hymer had been driving a vehicle belonging to a woman named Sandra Goodman. Disturbing home videos about Alissa have begun to surface on YouTube. It was devastating and frustrating., Sarah said she was told the next best step to take was to seek help from the media. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google On December 8th, 2008, a search warrant was issued for the home of Michael Roy Turney to search for evidence in connection to his step daughter's disappearance. During the press conference, officials credited Alissa's sister, Sarah, for her perseverance in this case. Alissas case remained classified as a runaway and police said the call was never traced or verified. Cox told Dateline. On August 20, Alissa's stepfather . Goodman had been found the day before, strangled, stabbed and wedged under a bed in a Fort Lauderdale hotel. Posts Videos Tagged. At Mr. Turneys residence in Phoenix, they found 26 pipe bombs and three incendiary devices, according to an F.B.I. We began to get some disturbing information that Alissa had told her boyfriend and told other friends, Somershoe said on the Missing Alissa podcast. Now, I need to continue to be tough and use that to fight for the justice she deserves. He admitted to conducting surveillance on her at work, using binoculars to spy on her., In Sarah Turneys telling, police asked her to come to police headquarters in December 2008. She deserves her day in court. And then when I found out she was missing, we 100 percent believed she had run away. [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. Accused stepfather of Alissa Turney asks court to send case back to grand jury to reconsider murder charge. 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. https://charleyproject.org/case/alissa-marie-turney Sarah told Dateline as Alissa entered her teenage years, her stepfather father became stricter with her. A Goodbye Note He was very overbearing. Alissa was entered into NCIC as soon as the report was taken. Katherine Russell Tsarnaev Daughter, Remarried, New Husband 2022? 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. [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. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The 21 Best Sports Bras for Every Workout. Listen to her story on @voicesforjusticepodcast. "Have you seen this child? Alissa went missing on the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix in May 2001. According to the Phoenix Police Department, Michael Turney, previously told authorities that he picked Alissa up from her last day of school around 11 a.m. and took her out to lunch. Im just trying to use those TikTok algorithms to spread the word. [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. 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. She Sought Justice on TikTok. Sarah Turney spent 20 years trying to uncover the truth about her sister's disappearance. According to the document, Turney, who worked as an electrician 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. Terms of Service apply. Rubbing estrogen onto my face seemed scary, until it wasnt. She deserves her day in court. In 2001, Alissa Turney went missing. She dressed me and taught me so many things.. It was May 17, 2001. He later admitted that he might have been mistaken. And then when I found out she was missing, we 100 percent believed she had run away. Instead, they took over her life. She would be 36 years old today. Required fields are marked *. My sister and I were very close, Sarah said. The document goes on to state that Turney planned to blow up the union hall in revenge and kill himself in the process. But then, on May 17, 2001, the last day of the school year, Alissa Turney vanished. It soon became apparent that Alissa Turney had not merely disappeared. Voices for Justice: The Story of Alissa Turney Voices for Justice True Crime Voices for Justice is written, produced, and, hosted by Sarah Turney. Now, I need to continue to be tough and use that to fight for the justice she deserves. Over the next year, the Turney siblings, each at different times, began to question their sisters disappearance. We were being reckless, but she was also always looking after me. He said he left to run errands and when he returned that afternoon, Alissa was gone. 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. Investigators initially thought Alissa Turney, seen. Alissa was last seen on May 17, 2001, the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School. Alissa and her stepfather, Michael Turney. [2] He was released in August 2017. On Tuesday, a police spokeswoman also declined to answer that question. Nearly two decades after 17-year-old Alissa Turney disappeared, Phoenix police have arrested the man believed to be responsible for her death. At the time, police determined there was no foul play involved and believed she was a runaway. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/26/us/alissa-turney-update.html. It finally forced them to look at my sisters case, Sarah explained to Dateline. 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. fehn's restaurant chattanooga tn,