PHOENIX – Following a week of testimonies in the highly publicized trial of Alissa Turney’s murder, the judge has acquitted Michael Turney, Alissa’s stepfather and the primary suspect, of all charges relating to the murder.
The judge based their decision on rule 20, which permits the court to issue an acquittal when “there is no substantial evidence to warrant a conviction.”
Turney was standing trial for second-degree murder, accused of being the last person to have seen Alissa alive 22 years ago. Prosecutors asserted that he possessed numerous tapes and recordings of Alissa and exerted control over her life. However, the defense argued against these claims, emphasizing the absence of a crime scene and the lack of proof that Alissa is dead.
17-year-old Alissa Turney disappeared towards the end of the school year at Paradise Valley High School in 2001. Initially reported as a runaway by Michael Turney, he informed authorities that Alissa had left behind a note and intended to travel to California.
She hasn’t been heard from since.
News by Breaking911
