COJ #136 - Sarah Turney of ‘Voices for Justice’ on the Disappearance of Her Sister and the Power of True Crime Media

Investigative journalists Mandy Matney and Liz Farrell of True Sunlight Podcast sit down with Sarah Turney, the creator of “Voices for Justice” podcast, to talk about the latest in her sister’s case and Sarah’s fight for answers. 

In 2001, Alissa Turney was just 17 years old when she disappeared on her last day of junior year in Phoenix, Arizona. Sarah and Alissa’s father, Michael, told police that Alissa had run away from home. The police believed him — and for years, so did Sarah, who was only 12 at the time of Alissa’s disappearance and thought she had the best father ever. 

Around the time Michael Turney was indicted for unlawful possession of unregistered destructive devices (IE… bombs and manifestos), Sarah began to question who her father really was but it wasn’t until she saw her sister’s case file that she truly started connecting the dots… 

Mandy and Liz have an in-depth conversation with Sarah about the genesis of how she came to suspect her father in her sister’s disappearance and what she’s learned about criminal investigations, the power of true crime media and the importance of amplifying the voices of victims and their families in their own searches for justice. 

☕ Cups Up! ⚖️

Episode References

Sarah Turney on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok

Sarah’s Podcast - “The Voices of Justice” - First season is dedicated to Alissa’s case

“Family Secrets: The Disappearance of Alissa Turney” on AppleTV

“Missing girl's stepdad gets 10 years in union hall bomb plot” - East Valley Tribune, Sept 28, 1010

“Grand Jury Indictment Returned on Michael Turney for 2nd Degree Murder in Death of Alissa Turney” - Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Aug 20, 2020

“An Arizona man was cleared in his stepdaughter’s disappearance. His son is convinced he’s guilty.” - NBC News, Dec 1, 2023

“20/20 ‘Since You've Been Gone’ Preview - The case of missing Arizona teen Alissa Turney” video - ABC News, Sept 16, 2023

“Michael Turney sues for $300,000 over arrest for killing stepdaughter” - Phoenix New Times, Jan 24, 2024

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