A man accused of the murder of his 17-year-old stepdaughter, which gained attention through a TikTok campaign to hold him accountable, has been acquitted of second-degree murder.
The trial of Michael Turney took place in Maricopa County, Arizona, where Alissa Turney disappeared in 2001 and her body was never found. The case received renewed interest in 2020 after Sarah Turney, Alissa’s sister, began posting TikToks outlining her belief in her father’s responsibility and criticizing the authorities for their inadequate investigation.
After testimony from Sarah Turney and other prosecution witnesses, a judge invoked Arizona’s Rule 20 and determined that there was insufficient evidence to continue the case. As a result, Michael Turney was acquitted and is protected from being retried.
In response to the verdict, defense attorney Jamie Jackson expressed his client’s relief at being released from custody while acknowledging his ongoing concern for the case and his desire to uncover the true culprit behind Alissa’s death.
In August 2020, Michael Turney was indicted on second-degree murder charges. The investigation into Alissa’s alleged murder began in 2008 when her friends shared information with the authorities, revealing that Turney had sexually assaulted her. However, the judge prohibited any mention of these molestation accusations during the trial.
During the search of Turney’s residence, conducted as part of the investigation, police discovered a stash of 26 pipe bombs, 19 assault rifles, two handmade silencers, and containers of gasoline in a van. Turney pleaded guilty to possessing the pipe bombs and served a 10-year prison sentence before being released in 2017.
The case gained further attention when Ottavia Zappala launched the podcast “Missing Alissa,” which delved into the details of the case. Sarah Turney also started her own podcast, “Voices for Justice,” advocating for her father’s arrest and revealing information about her and her father’s relationship with Alissa. She even played a recorded conversation with her father that she interpreted as an admission of guilt.
Following the acquittal, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell issued a statement acknowledging the family’s fight for justice and expressing pride in the efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement. While the office may not agree with the judge’s ruling, they respect the court’s decision.
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