People who are frequently othered in our culture will definitely know when youre just trying to sniff out their ethnicity. Omg, thank you. Thats why I saved my money.. Though police did not say how they came to arrest Michael Turney or whether Sarahs social media efforts helped solve Alissa Turneys disappearance County Attorney Allister Adel acknowledged Sarahs social media campaign in a press conference. Because of that love, Alissa's light has never gone out, she said. 584 posts. Sarah said she was scared to jump off the roof at first, but eventually jumped. 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. On Thursday, her stepfather, Michael Turney, was arrested, and faces charges of second-degree murder. Cause. 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. Im shaking and Im crying, she posted to Twitter. Now, nearly two decades after Alissa disappeared, Mr. Turney, 72, has been charged with second-degree homicide. But Alissa was nowhere to be found. 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. 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. 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. Quickly, the Phoenix Police identified their only person of interest, Alissa's step father, Michael Roy Turney. But when she did the jump, instead of Alissa bouncing off, she did. So, when Sarah's dad told her that her sister left on her own good will, she believed him. But its a victory for Sarah nonetheless. It took almost 20 years but we did it., On her podcast, Sarah tearfully added, Without you guys, this would have never happened. Were exhausted. Disturbing home videos about Alissa have begun to surface on YouTube. "He's been arrested Never give up hope that you can get justice. Alissa Turney, who disappeared without a trace in 2001. The 21 Best Sports Bras for Every Workout. In 2019, she started her own podcast, Voices For Justice. 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. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. Sarah Turney Wiki [Alissa Turney Sister], Bio, Age, Height, Husband Sarah Turney Sarah Turneyis 31 years old sister of Alissa Turney who disappeared without a trace in 2001. At the time of his arrest, Hymer had been driving a vehicle belonging to a woman named Sandra Goodman. She got away from him and thats what she wanted. Cox told Dateline. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? She poked her head into her boyfriends woodworking class and said her stepfather was taking her out of school early,Adel said at the press conference. 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. Alissa Turney's school photo (left) and Michael Turney's mugshot. Alissa Turney went missing from Phoenix, Arizona on May 17th, 2001 at the age of 17. [1][8][14] They also found a manifesto outlining his plans for a rampage against the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers building in Phoenix. On May 17, 2001, 17-year-old Alissa left Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona, in the middle of the day. Its one of my favorite memories.. He served seven years. As of 2023, she is around 39 years old. 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. On August 20, Alissa's stepfather . 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. Alissas brother, James, who now lives Oregon with his family, told Dateline he just wants his sister back. From there, police bumbled into a cache of weapons at Michael Turneys home, which included 26 pipe bombs and three incendiary devices. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to felony charges of unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices, and spent seven years in prison. Alissa and her stepfather, Michael Turney. 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. New evidence suggests the now-infamous case is even darker than it looks. Or to her aunts house in California. 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. It was just one of those moments Ill always remember, Sarah said. But over the years, he had so many renditions of what happened that day. Her stepfather Michael Turney was arrested Thursday afternoon in Mesa, Arizona. The Phoenix Police Department considers Turney to be an "investigative lead" in her disappearance. [2] He was released in August 2017. Alissa Turney disappeared in May 2001, the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix. However, in 2006 a convicted killer, Thomas Hymer falsely confessed to killing Alissa along with a slew of other missing girls. [17] In April 2020, Sarah began posting about the case on TikTok, garnering millions of views. Now Her Father Is Charged With Homicide. Hes been arrested. Rubbing estrogen onto my face seemed scary, until it wasnt. 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. She had blonde highlights in her brown hair. Sarah TurneyAlissa Turney turned 17 only a month before she disappeared. Aug. 11, 2009 -- The disappearance of 17-year-old Alissa Turney became a top priority last year for Phoenix police Dets. It was supposed to be the Rachel haircut. The totality of circumstances known to police prompted the focus on Michael Turney as the suspect, Sgt. But then, on May 17, 2001, the last day of the school year, Alissa Turney vanished. IE 11 is not supported. @saraheturney on a mission to get justice for missing teen, Alissa Turney. [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. 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. Something was not right with him, James said. Alissa then dared the much-younger Sarah to jump off the roof while she was still on the trampoline. In one clip from 2000, it appears that Mr. Turney sat in a parking lot to film Alissa while she worked at a fast-food restaurant. 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. It was the largest stockpile of explosives discovered in Phoenix Police Department history, according to The Arizona Republic. Yet Alissa left her cell phone and makeup behind, details that would later strike investigators as odd. [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. By 2001, Alissa was a junior in high school. [1], In 2008, the case was reopened. 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. independent local journalism in Phoenix. In 2001 Michael Turney, 72, called police to tell them his 17-year-old step-daughter Alissa Turney had "ran away" and would no longer be attending school in the fall. I never wanted to get on media, I never wanted to make my own podcast, but we did it, you guys.. 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. This page has been accessed 10,541 times. Alissa Turney was a junior in high school when she vanished in 2001. I feel like there was not another platform where I could be as expressive.. The Phoenix Police Department Missing Persons Unit decided to reinvestigate Alissa Turneys case in 2008 and interviewed 200 people who had known her. But in recent years, she has worked to raise awareness about what she's concluded to be her father's guilt, posting on social media with #JusticeforAlissa and working on her podcast, "Voices for Justice.". Your house is being raided Also, your father probably molested your sister.. [6]. No charges have been pressed against Michael in the relation to the disappearance of his step daughter. We were being reckless, but she was also always looking after me. Thats all I ever wanted, is for them both to have their day in court.. Personal Life, Parents and Family Details : Michael TurneySeems like he never liked his adopted-step daughter Alissa Turney, and it seems like he really hated her really bad. Alissas stepfather, Michael Roy Turney, told authorities he took Alissa out of school early and they went out to lunch, then came home. School was letting out just in time for another sweltering Arizona summer. 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. Alissa Turney, 17, was never heard from again. We spoke for over an hour. But after he realized I wasnt there to reconnect, he got angry. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. This post deals with child abuse and might be triggering for some readers. Alissa Turney disappeared in 2001, when she was 17. Nearly two decades after 17-year-old Alissa Turney disappeared, Phoenix police have arrested the man believed to be responsible for her death. It is call Voices for Justice and you can find it on all major platforms. During the press conference, officials credited Alissa's sister, Sarah, for her perseverance in this case. [2][3][4][5], May 17, 2001 was the last day of Alissa's junior year at Paradise Valley High School. On that day she poked her head into her boyfriend's woodworking class at Paradise Valley High School and said . Did TikTok Help Solve a Decades-Old Disappearance? 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. And she plans to use her social media and podcast to raise awareness about other cold cases. She has a small scar on her chin. That dark humor of TikTok really just lent itself to me, she said. Sarah remembers Alissa being a good student, but a spirited teenager with a rebellious streak. At a news conference last week announcing the grand jury indictment, Allister Adel, the prosecutor for Maricopa County, Ariz., addressed Ms. Turney directly.