PHOENIX, ARIZONA: The trial has commenced for Michael Roy Turney, a 75-year-old man accused of killing his teenage stepdaughter, Alissa Turney, over two decades ago. Alissa's body has never been found, leaving her family desperate for answers and justice. Opening statements were scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 6, marking a significant moment in this long-standing mystery.
A note of confusion
Alissa Turney, just 17 years old at the time, was last seen on May 17, 2001, when she informed her boyfriend that her stepfather would be picking her up early from Paradise Valley High School, coinciding with the last day of her junior year. Unfortunately, that would be the final time anyone saw her alive, per Court TV.
When Alissa's stepfather reported her missing, he informed the police that he believed she had run away. According to his statement, she left behind a note suggesting she was heading to California. The note read, "Dad and Sarah, When you dropped me off at school today, I decided I really am going to California... Sarah, you said you really wanted me gone – now you have it. Dad, I took $300 from you. That’s why I saved my money."
A sister's determination
At first, Alissa's apparent decision to leave wasn't immediately suspicious. She had previously expressed her desire to live with an aunt in California due to a strained relationship with Michael, who had legally adopted her following the death of their mother, Barbara Strahm, from cancer nine years prior. However, despite the note and Michael's belief that Alissa had run away, he still called the police that night to report her as a runaway.
From the moment Alissa disappeared, her sister Sarah took it upon herself to find her. Sarah created a website dedicated to Alissa's case shortly after her disappearance, appealing to the public for leads and tips that could help bring her home. Over the years, as the police investigation reached a standstill, law enforcement advised Sarah to create a media presence to keep the case alive. She established Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts with the username "Justice for Alissa" and actively reached out to the media and true crime enthusiasts, successfully generating significant attention for the case. Sarah's determination even led her to raise funds and erect a billboard along Interstate 17 near 19th Avenue to further raise awareness.
Twists and turns in the investigation
In 2006, Alissa's case regained national attention when a man named Thomas Hymer, serving a prison sentence in Florida for murder, confessed to her murder in a letter to the police. Although the investigation eventually determined that Hymer's confession was a hoax, certain details and information within it suggested that Alissa's disappearance was far from a runaway case.
This development prompted the police to shift their focus to Michael Turney in 2008. Michael had claimed to have picked Alissa up from school on the day she vanished. In a significant turn of events, Michael was arrested in 2008 when law enforcement officers discovered 26 pipe bombs, a manifesto, extensive audio recordings, and home videos of him obsessively tracking Alissa's movements leading up to her disappearance. In one video, a younger Sarah can be seen holding a tape recording of Alissa and Michael, with Alissa's voice in the background clearly stating, "Dad's a pervert." Police also uncovered contracts allegedly signed by Alissa, stating that she had never been sexually assaulted or molested by Michael.
However, Michael's arrest in 2008 was not directly related to Alissa's disappearance but rather to the possession of the pipe bombs. Despite police attempts to interview him regarding Alissa's case, he consistently declined.
Uncovering the truth
Determined to seek justice for her sister, Sarah initiated a podcast in September 2019 called 'Voices for Justice', using the platform to present lesser-known information about Alissa's disappearance to the public and the true crime community. She strived to tell the full story surrounding her sister's vanishing, incorporating the information she had discovered during her extensive research.
To prepare for the podcast, Sarah sought access to the case files held by the Phoenix Police Department. She successfully obtained nearly 3,000 pages of publicly released notes and case documents. Sarah devoted herself to meticulously reviewing the records, spending six weeks poring over every detail. In doing so, she uncovered numerous revelations and gained unexpected insights that had previously eluded her.
Indictment and the pursuit of justice
In June of last year, Phoenix police submitted Alissa's case to the prosecutor's office, recommending charges against Michael Turney. On August 19, 2020, a grand jury indicted Michael on one count of second-degree murder, a Class 1 felony, in connection with Alissa's death. He was apprehended the following day, marking a significant breakthrough in the case.
As the trial proceeds, prosecutors have chosen to keep the details of the evidence they possess linking Michael to Alissa's disappearance confidential. They have not publicly revealed any information regarding Alissa's fate. Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel expressed her dedication to seeking justice, stating, "As county attorney, this is the work that matters. It is why I became a prosecutor. Seeking justice for victims of crime and their families will always be job one for this office. Being a voice for those who can no longer speak for themselves guides this office every single day as we seek to do the right thing for the right reasons."
During a press conference, Adel also acknowledged the tireless efforts of Alissa's sister, Sarah, and credited her devotion to the case as a driving force behind the indictment. She remarked, "Your perseverance and commitment to finding justice for your sister Alissa is a testament to the love of a sister. Because of that love, Alissa’s light has never gone out, and she lives on in the stories and photos that you have shared with the community."
The trial continues.
