“The Day Alissa Disappeared”: Dateline Reports on Alissa Turney June 13 2025

Dateline’s two-hour special, “The Day Alissa Disappeared,” airing Friday, June 13, explores the 2001 disappearance of 17-year-old Alissa Turney in Phoenix, Arizona. At first glance, Alissa’s case appeared to be a runaway teen scenario, complete with a handwritten note and vague reports of a call from California. But as years passed, suspicion grew—especially around the man who raised her: her adoptive father and stepfather, Michael Turney.

Andrea Canning leads the broadcast, guiding viewers through decades of investigation, family turmoil, and the pursuit of justice. The episode features interviews with investigators, prosecutors, and family members, including Sarah Turney, Alissa’s younger sister, whose public campaign for answers became central to reopening the case. What emerges is a deeply unsettling story about trust, secrets, and a justice system faced with one of its most difficult challenges: prosecuting a murder case with no body.

The Disappearance of Alissa Turney

On May 17, 2001, Alissa Turney vanished after finishing her final day as a high school junior at Paradise Valley High School. Her stepfather, Michael Turney, told police that he picked her up early from school and that they argued before she stormed off. That same day, a note was found in her bedroom suggesting she had run away to California. However, her cellphone, car, makeup, and other personal items were left behind—items unlikely to be abandoned by someone intending to start over.

Michael reported Alissa missing, but early police involvement was limited. The note was accepted at face value. Alissa’s family believed she would return soon. But when she didn’t, and her bank account remained untouched, doubt began to surface. Alissa’s friends reported to investigators that she had confided in them about her controlling home life. As weeks turned to years, her disappearance was no longer viewed as a teenage escape—but possibly something far more sinister.

Michael Turney’s Role and Explosive Discoveries

Michael Turney was a former electrician, a union worker, and a widower who had raised Alissa and her younger half-sister Sarah after their mother died of cancer. In 2008, as investigators revisited Alissa’s disappearance, Michael quickly became their prime suspect. That year, police executed a search warrant on his home. What they discovered stunned them.

Inside the Turney residence, authorities found 26 improvised explosive devices, multiple firearms, silencers, and a manifesto outlining a plan to attack the local electrical workers’ union. Michael had long alleged that union operatives had murdered Alissa. Though no evidence supported his theory, the weapons cache led to federal charges. Michael was convicted of possessing illegal devices and served ten years in prison.

These revelations raised even more questions about Michael’s stability and possible involvement in Alissa’s disappearance. Yet at the time, no murder charges were filed.

The Public Campaign Led by Sarah Turney

After Michael’s release in 2017, Alissa’s younger sister, Sarah Turney, launched a campaign to keep her sister’s story alive. Using podcasts and social media—especially TikTok—Sarah amassed a national following and urged the public and authorities to take action. Her podcast Voices for Justice explored the case in depth, sharing documents, home recordings, and personal memories.

One key piece of evidence Sarah shared was a 2017 recording of a conversation with her father. In it, Michael said he would give “all the honest answers you want to hear” on his deathbed. While not a confession, the statement added weight to Sarah’s growing case in the court of public opinion. Her efforts ultimately pressured local authorities to act. In August 2020, nearly 20 years after Alissa’s disappearance, Michael Turney was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

The Trial and Unexpected Legal Outcome

Michael Turney’s trial began in July 2023. Prosecutors relied heavily on circumstantial evidence: the strange surveillance in the home, the allegations of abuse from Alissa’s friends, the note left behind, and Michael’s refusal to cooperate with investigators over the years. Testimony came from detectives, Sarah Turney, Alissa’s former boyfriend, and others familiar with her final months.

Despite the volume of allegations and public support for the case, the prosecution faced a significant hurdle: the absence of physical evidence. Alissa’s body has never been found, and no crime scene was ever identified. After six days of trial, the defense moved for a directed verdict under Arizona law, claiming the state had failed to present substantial evidence that a murder had occurred.

The judge agreed. On July 18, 2023, all charges against Michael Turney were dismissed. He was released from custody, and the case reverted to unsolved status. The ruling disappointed many, including Sarah Turney, who nonetheless expressed gratitude to the prosecutors for taking the case as far as it went.

Where the Case Stands Today

As of 2025, Alissa Turney’s body remains missing, and no one has been convicted in connection with her disappearance. Michael Turney continues to assert his innocence. Since his acquittal, he has started a YouTube channel, announced plans for a podcast, and filed a lawsuit against the Phoenix Police Department, claiming wrongful arrest and reputational harm.

Sarah Turney continues her advocacy for Alissa through her podcast and social media platforms. She remains convinced that her father was responsible for her sister’s death and uses her platform to raise awareness about other missing persons and cold cases. Though the legal process did not end with a conviction, Sarah’s work has kept Alissa’s memory alive and has shined a spotlight on how difficult justice can be in cases without direct evidence.

“The Day Alissa Disappeared” does more than recount a disappearance—it asks the audience to consider what justice looks like when the truth remains elusive. The Dateline episode presents a thorough and sobering look at how families and investigators can struggle for decades in the absence of closure.