17-year-old Alissa Turney was last seen in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 17, 2001. She disappeared from home on the last day of her junior year of high school.
Background
Alissa Marie Turney was born on April 3, 1984, to Barbara Farner and Stephen Strahm. Her parents divorced when she was just three years old.
In 1986, her mother married Michael Turney, a former Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy, who had three sons from a previous relationship. Michael later adopted Alissa, and she grew up in a blended family.
When Alissa was eight years old, her mother passed away from cancer, leaving Michael to raise the children alone. Alissa lived with her stepfather and her younger half-sister, Sarah Turney, at their home on North 34th Street in Phoenix, Arizona.
By 2001, Alissa was a junior at Paradise Valley High School. She had a part-time job at Jack in the Box and was dating Jon Laakman.
Disappearance
On May 17, 2001, the last day of school before summer break, Alissa was excited for the months ahead. She told her boyfriend that she would be leaving school early to have lunch with her stepfather, Michael Turney.
Around 11:00 a.m., she signed out of school and was picked up by Michael. During lunch, the two allegedly argued about Alissa wanting more freedom — she wanted to attend a graduation party and stay out late that evening.
By 1:00 p.m., Michael said he dropped Alissa off at home. He later told police she went straight to her room, upset after their argument.
Michael then ran errands and picked up his younger daughter, Sarah, from a school field trip at a water park. When they returned home around 5:00 p.m., Alissa was gone.
Her belongings — including her phone, money, and bag — were still there. Her usually tidy room was in disarray.
A note was left behind, written in her familiar handwriting, saying she was “running away to California.”
Despite this, her friends and family never believed she ran away — especially because she left $1,800 untouched in her bank account and never contacted anyone again.
Investigation
At first, police treated Alissa as a runaway. A week later, Michael reported receiving a phone call from a payphone in Riverside, California, from someone claiming to be Alissa. The caller said, “Leave me alone,” before hanging up. Authorities were never able to verify or trace that call.
In 2008, the Phoenix Police Department reopened Alissa’s case and reclassified it as a potential homicide.
During their investigation, multiple witnesses — including Alissa’s friends and former boyfriend — told police Alissa had confided that she was uncomfortable with Michael’s controlling behavior and feared him.
Authorities also discovered that Michael had installed hidden cameras around the house and recorded phone calls without his children’s knowledge. He was known to arrive at her job early to monitor her.
Search & Weapons Cache
When investigators executed a search warrant on December 11, 2008, they found an alarming stockpile at the Turney home:
- 19 assault rifles
- 26 handmade explosive devices
- Two silencers
- A van filled with gasoline cans
- A 98-page manifesto titled “Diary of a Madman Martyr”
In that document, Michael detailed a plan to attack a local electrical union hall, claiming the union had kidnapped Alissa.
He was later arrested and, on March 30, 2010, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and released in 2017.
Murder Charge
In August 2020, Michael Turney was arrested again — this time charged with second-degree murder in Alissa’s presumed death.
However, in July 2023 , an Arizona judge acquitted him after the prosecution presented its case, citing Rule 20 — stating there was not enough substantial evidence to support a conviction.
Whereabouts
Foul play is strongly suspected. The circumstances surrounding Alissa Turney’s disappearance remain unclear, and her case is still officially classified as missing and unsolved.
Physical Description
- Full Name: Alissa Marie Turney
- Date of Birth: April 3, 1984
- Age at Disappearance: 17
- Height: 5′4″–5′5″
- Weight: 140–150 lbs
- Hair: Brown with blonde highlights
- Eyes: Brown
- Distinguishing Marks: Scar on her chin; pierced ears
- Clothing Last Seen Wearing: White tank top, gray shorts, gray sneakers
- Accessories: Black backpack
Contact Information
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Alissa Marie Turney, please contact:
📞 Phoenix Police Department – Missing Persons Unit
Phone: (602) 262-6141
Case Number: 2001-10922334
