Justice For Alissa! Please help! UPDATED ON 11/25/2019

Alissa Marie Turney was 17-years-old when she seemingly vanished in 2001 from her home in Phoenix, Arizona. When she disappeared, she allegedly left a note saying she “ran away.” For years, the police treated her case as such, but after awhile, they began to suspect that foul play was involved and Micheal Turney, Alissa's stepfather, had something to do with it.

Alissa's little sister, Sarah, was oblivious to the fact that her dad might be the devil in disguise. She was too young and innocent to think that her father might be evil. After all, he doting on Sarah and gave her anything she wanted. How could be be bad?

Well, Michael did go to prison, but not for Alissa's disappearance. He went to prison for attempting to blow up a building with people inside. When this happened, detectives finally confided in Sarah that her father might had something to due with Alissa being missing. At first Sarah didn't believe it. How could she? This is the man that single-handedly raised her for years. As time went by however, Sarah became aware that her father might not be the man she thought he was.

The Phoenix Police Department had told Sarah, who now is convinced that her father had a role in what happened to Alissa, that they had evidence to send Michael to trial for Alissa's disappearance. However, the department wanted to wait until Michael had served his sentence for the attempted domestic terrorist act.

So where is Michael Turney now? He is roaming free as a snake slithering through the grass. After he was released from prison the Phoenix police claimed that they didn't have any evidence against Michael... They also started icing out Sarah, who had been in constant contact with detectives and was helping them to try and get evidence and publicity for Alissa's case.

What is Sarah up to now? Courageously fighting for Alissa. Most of her family has turned against her and the Phoenix police are basically a joke at this point. 

Will you help Sarah get justice for Alissa? The justice she deserves? 

This is Sarah's podcast on Alissa's case  https://www.voicesforjusticepodcast.com/. She can explain the best everything that has went on so far. She publishes new information all the time as she discovers it.

Below is what i have learned so far by watching videos, reading articles and listening to podcasts.

Background

Mike was born to a fairly poor family. He and his brother older brother, James, had to pitch in to help the family out. Mike and his two sister's looked up to James as a father figure. James protected the three fiercely. James knew martial arts, which he taught to Mike.

Despite James being a hero in Mike's eyes, he was also a bully and would frequently beat him up. Mike and James were very competitive with each other as well. They had a very tumultuous relationship, but they would always remain loyal to each other.

Growing up, Mike and his siblings were allegedly sexually abused by their parents. Which drastically affected their lives and perhaps set the two brothers down some dark roads in the future.

Former Governor and former secretary of state of Arizona, Wesley Bolin, allegedly has connection to the family and might have gotten certain members of the family out of stick situations when they arose.

Mike was drafted into the military after high school. During his 21 month tour, he was trained in advanced artillery as well as chemical and biological warfare. He was honorably discharged with a rank of Sergeant (E-5).

After being discharged, Mike married his childhood sweetheart, Cheryl. They had three children together. During this time Mike  became a Maricopa County Deputy Sheriff. It was rumored that he was fair, unless someone crossed him. Then it was said that he would become obsessed with the person that wronged him and would not let it go.

He allegedly sexually assaulted Cheryl's 16 year old sister. When confronted, he claimed that he was sleepwalking. He also allegedly attempted to kiss and fondle her other sister, but she fought back.

Mike resigned from his post as Deputy Sheriff in 1974. He gave varying stories as to why. Many people close to Mike at the time believed that it was because he was caught tampering with the crime scene when James shot his wife Donna. Mike's actions at the scene of the shooting were described as "grossly inappropriate." Mike also allegedly had a grossly inappropriate obsession with Donna.

In 1979, Mike and Cheryl divorced. One summer day after the divorce, Mike had asked James' daughter, 13-year-old Jamie to stay for the summer and baby sit his three boys. She was so excited to be hanging out with her cousins. Soon, the excitement turned to dread one day. Mike had come in from the garage and laid down on the floor. He asked Jamie to walk on his back to try and get some knots out. She put a foot on his back. He then asked Jamie if she'd rub a section of it. She didn't think anything of it, he was her uncle and had always showed her kindness and respect. She rubbed his back and that was it, until after dinner that night. The boys were asleep and Jamie was in her room when Mike knocked at the door. She opened the door a crack and he asked her if she'd like her back massaged. This freaked Jamie out, especially when she saw the look on his face. She told him no and he walked away. Jamie was relieved and shocked that he took "no" for an answer. It wouldn't have happened that way at her house. You see, Jamie was drugged by her father and molested at her house. She would always wear layers of clothes and be wrapped up in blankets. She was always fearful that she would be befouled as she slept.

Mike Turney married Alissa Turney’s mother, Barbara Strahm in 1987, when Alissa was just three years old, and her half-brother John was 10. Mike had three sons before marrying Barbra. Mike adopted Alissa. In 1988, the couple had one child together, Sarah. Neighbors said that the family seemed like a real life Brady Bunch.

Unfortunately, hings changed when Mike left his electrical job. A few years later, he had an accident happened that shattered his knee and things seemed to get worse. From that point on, he never worked again. 

Allegedly, Mike always had mental health problems. So it makes sense that a condition of his disability was that he had to see a therapist twice a week. 

Barbra was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1993. She’d had some pretty aggressive chemotherapy, and she’d lost the battle. It was pretty sudden. She was only 34 when she died less that two years later. This sent Mike into a deep depression. Micheal’s sons, who were all grown up by then, did not live with their father. He was left to raise Alissa and Sarah by himself.

Who Was Alissa?

She was born on April 3rd, 1984. She was kind and caring but strong, She loved rap and metal. Alissa's favorite movies were Empire Records, Liar Liar, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and People Under the Stairs. She also enjoyed kids shows such as Rainbow Brite and Blue’s Clues. Alissa wanted to be a mom one day. Alissa was an a typical teenager who wanted her independence and was trying to get over her mother's death. Her stepfather Mike Turney was strict with her. Well, strict is an understatement..

What Happened?

Alissa Turney was last seen by her stepfather on May 17, 2001. It was her last day of her junior year at Paradise Valley High School.

Mike Turney picked Alissa up from school early that day. Mike said they had an argument after Alissa asked for more freedom. Her stepfather refused to allow it. At home, Mike said he watched Alissa angrily go to her bedroom. Later interviews has Mike saying that he left the home to pick Sarah up from school, and run some errands. He reportedly called the home to check up on Alissa, but said there was no answer.When Mike went to get Sarah, he told her that Alissa was not answering the phone, and he was worried. He asked Sarah to give Alissa a call, there was still no answer. When they got home, nobody was inside, and Alissa’s cell phone was vibrating in her room. Sarah then found a note in Alissa’s bedroom, saying that she saved enough money, and was headed to California.
The note also said “Sarah you wanted me gone. Now you have it.”Mike Turney went door-to-door asking for any information, but nothing turned up. He then headed to the local police department to file a missing persons report. 

Seeing the note and Alissa’s age, determining she was a runaway, and expecting her to return within a couple weeks, the police did nothing.

After a week of searching for his daughter, Mike received a call from a California number. The voice on the other end sounded different, but Mike was sure it was Alissa.To him, she sounded like she was being pulled away from the phone. The last thing he heard before the call disconnected was, “Leave me alone.”That, Turney claims, is the last time he heard from Alissa.

A Confession

Serial killer Thomas Hymer was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Sandra Goodman. In 2006, while in jail, Hymer wrote letters to police. He reportedly described every murder he committed. He claimed to have killed 21 women, most of whom were adolescent girls.

While being interviewed, Hymer pointed to a picture of Alissa, and claimed that he had sexual relations with her in a motel before killing her, and dumping her dismembered body parts in a recycling center. He also described her as a heroin addict, and mentioned sexual traits that did not add up with what Alissa’s boyfriend revealed. This lead the police to believe he wasn't involved and just wanted the attention.

What The Stepfather Did..

After Barbara Strahm’s death, Mike Turney became more strict with Alissa, and routinely checked up on her. He would search her belongings, monitor her calls, and when she clocked in for shifts at the local Jack In The Box, sit in the parking lot and watch her work. Alissa couldn’t go to parties, but Sarah was allowed to move her boyfriend into the family home. He also bought her  a mini-fridge and filled it with beer.

In 2008, investigators discovered that Mike installed surveillance cameras inside and outside of his home, and he recorded calls. Mike told officers that the cameras were there for safety, not monitoring. He provided them with tapes of Alissa with men she reportedly met at work, and of the teenager with her boyfriend. Police asked him about the tapes of the day she disappeared. Mike claimed he went through eight hours of footage, and saw nothing of relevance, so he got rid of them.


Sarah was contacted by local authorities asking her to come down to the station. Police told her that thought her dad was behind Alissa’s disappearance. Officers were searching her home while Sarah was at the station. They had reason to believe Mike abused Alissa. Mike Turney was arrested and taken into custody after he was found armed with two guns and clips, and a knife while collecting his mail. In a more detailed search detectives to found 30 improvised explosive devices, weapons that can cause big blasts, and high-caliber assault rifles. Along with these weapons, police also find a 98-page document titled, “Diary of a Madman Martyr.”
The manifesto also contained a document claiming that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers were behind the Alissa’s disappearance. Mike reportedly planned to blow up the union hall to get his vengeance against the people who took Alissa.
He allegedly wrote that he killed two “assassins” who murdered Alissa.


Police found more homemade tapes of Alissa, along with contracts Turney allegedly made Alissa sign, one of which was dated a year before Alissa’s disappearance, reportedly claiming that she was never abused by him.

The raid came just in time; the union’s next meeting was scheduled four days later. Authorities had certainly prevented a mass murder, he said.


Mike Turney was sentenced to 10 years in a federal prison.


Detectives then asked Alissa’s friends about the suspected abuse, and they confirmed that she spoke to them of her step dad attempting to assault her when she was younger.


Her boyfriend also said that Alissa told him that her father picked her up from school early, and drove her to a deserted area where he tried to assault her.


Her friends said Alissa had told them that one night she woke up tied to a chair and gagged with Michael on top of her.

Briefly in the 1990's, Alissa's cousin David, lived with the family. He claimed that when he attempted popped in a VHS cassette labeled “Doctor Dolittle,” the tape contained footage of a woman laying on the sofa where he was sitting, wearing nothing but shorts, with a newspaper over her face. He was sure it was Alissa. In another frame, another woman was also in the room, her face similarly covered in newspaper. Meanwhile, Mike sat in the room silently, just watching. David immediately packed up and moved out. 

Before i go on, i just wanted to point out that like Mike was accused of killing Alissa, James was accused of killing his stepson, Donnie. That wasn't their only similarities either. James also had camera's all over his house and monitored phone calls.

Now

Sarah still lives in Paradise Valley, about a mile from where she grew up. She works as an events manager at Sunshine Residential Homes, a program that provides clean, safe and structured homes for foster children in Arizona who are victims of abuse, abandonment and neglect.

"I want to help children who go through trauma because I was there," Sarah said. "I didn't have anyone and I had to propel myself. I don't want these kids to feel alone.

Sarah created http://www.helpfindalissa.com/ in the early 2000's.


She found out from the ABC News segment that her father had taken her sister out of class early that day, to go out for lunch.


“I don’t know conclusively. But, everything points to my father being involved. I know that she would’ve reached out to someone by now. But there's the guilt with giving up hope. I want to keep hope alive.” said Sarah.


Sarah and her father speak occasionally. At first she would ask him questions about her sister and about what police had found in their home, but he would divert the conversation.


Authorities believe foul play was involved in Alissa’s disappearance as it is uncharacteristic of runaways to leave behind all their belongings and money.


Alissa had left $1,800 untouched in her bank account and left her makeup, hairbrush, keys and phone behind, and never contacted friends or family.


Sarah wants to draw as much attention to her sister's case as possible.

We need to get justice for Alissa!

https://www.facebook.com/Helpfindalissa/
http://www.helpfindalissa.com/home.html

What do you think happened to Alissa?
I think that when Alissa's mother became ill, or perhaps before, Mike showed an interest in Alissa.
It escalated after her mother died.
I think that on the day she disappeared, that Mike accidentally or on purpose killed her and hid the body.

Could there be other victims out there?