The story of Sarah Turney was featured in Family Secrets: The Disappearance of Alissa Turney on Oxygen True Crime on October 13 at 8 p.m. ET. The episode showed the 2001 disappearance of Alissa Turney from Phoenix, Arizona, as her sister, Sarah Turney, sought answers.
After believing for years that Alissa had run away, new evidence and perspectives came to light, painting a picture of possible foul play. The documentary features home video footage and interviews, providing a look at the Turney family’s dynamics and the efforts of Sarah to uncover the truth.
Sarah launched the podcast Voices for Justice, which initially focused on her sister’s case and has since expanded to cover other unsolved cases. Sarah Turney now advocates for victims of unsolved crimes. Living in Phoenix, Arizona, she continues to use her platform to shed light on her sister Alissa Turney's mysterious disappearance.
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In 2020, Sarah Turner's campaign and use of social media led to a significant development. Her father, Michael Turney, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in Alissa’s case, though he was later acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
What happened to Sarah Turney's sister, Alissa Turney?
On May 17, 2001, Alissa Turney vanished from her home in Phoenix, Arizona. It was the last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School. As shown in the episode, her stepfather, Michael Turney, reported that after picking her up from school and having lunch, he returned Alissa to their house around 1 p.m.
He later called the police, reporting her as a runaway based on a note purportedly left by Alissa, claiming she was heading to California. For years, the official stance on the case was that Alissa had run away as per the episode. However, her bank accounts remained untouched, and none of her personal belongings, which included her cell phone and makeup, had been taken with her.
In 2008, the Phoenix Police Department revisited the case, declaring foul play a factor. This shift came after interviews with several individuals close to Alissa, who suggested that the circumstances around her disappearance were suspicious.
The police conducted a search of Michael Turney’s home, uncovering a stash of weapons and explosive devices along with a 98-page manifesto in which he planned to attack a local union. He was subsequently arrested and sentenced to prison on weapons charges unrelated to Alissa’s case.
Alissa’s younger sister, Sarah Turney, launched a social media campaign to bring attention to her sister's disappearance. Her efforts went viral, particularly on TikTok, bringing significant public and media attention to the case.
The episode shows that in 2020, based on circumstantial evidence and the visibility Sarah's campaign had generated, Michael Turney was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Alissa’s disappearance.
The trial, however, ended in 2023 without a conviction; Michael Turney was acquitted due to insufficient evidence, as reported by NBC News on July 21, 2023. As of 2024, no trace of Alissa has been found, and the mystery of what happened to her remains largely unanswered.
Throughout the ordeal, Sarah Turney has continued to advocate for her sister and other unsolved cases, using her platform to keep the public engaged and hopeful for a resolution.
Family Secrets: The Disappearance of Alissa Turney aired on Sunday, October 13, at 8 p.m. ET on Oxygen.
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