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Alyssa Turney

Stepfather Acquitted in Alissa Turney Murder Case, Leaving Victim’s Family in ‘Complete shock’
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Michael Turney, the Arizona stepfather of Alissa Turney and the main suspect in her 2001 disappearance, was acquitted of second-degree murder charges on Monday.

According to AZ Family, a Phoenix judge ruled in favor of a motion of acquittal on Monday morning, referring to rule 20, which states if “there is no substantial evidence to warrant a conviction” then an acquittal could follow.

Last week, prosecutors claimed that Turney, 75, seized hundreds of tapes and recordings of Alissa, in an attempt to control her life. However, the defense rebutted, asserting there is no evidence of a crime scene or any proof that Alissa is deceased since she has never been found.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Alissa had just turned 17 when she mysteriously vanished from her Phoenix home. She told her boyfriend that her stepfather was picking her up early at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix on May 17, 2001. She was never seen again.

Michael Turney pushed the idea that Alissa ran away from home, then family members found a handwritten note, reportedly written by Alissa, claiming she was going to California. The defendant contacted police to report Alissa missing, but after an exhaustive search, the trail went cold.

In 2008, authorities announced foul play was involved in Alissa’s disappearance. After investigators learned of accusations of sexual abuse, allegedly at the hands of Michael Turney, the focus of the case shifted to a criminal investigation.

“This was not a runaway child. Something else had happened,” Pheonix PD said in 2020.

According to the FBI, Turney pleaded guilty in 2010 to possessing 26 pipe bombs discovered in his residence during the investigation into Alissa’s disappearance.

In court Monday, the acquittal appeared to have been a “complete shock” to Alissa’s loved ones, ABC 13 reports.

Alissa’s sister, Sarah, testified as a key witness in court last week. She’s been dedicated to the case for years by sharing haunting home videos on social media, and creating a podcast called “Voices for Justice.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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[Feature Photo: Alissa Turney/Handout]