AZ AZ - Alissa Turney, 17, Phoenix, 17 May 2001 *stepdad ARREST in 2020, acquitted*

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  • #242
Witness John Turney is no longer on the stand. Defense does not want certain things discussed during trial. Jury has been excused at this time. MOO
 
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  • #243
Court is in recess until tomorrow. Counsels need to be in court @10:15 am PT.
 
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TURNEY TRIAL DAY 2: Today is Day 2 of the Michael Turney trial, and could be one of the MOST important days. Sarah Turney will be back on the stand. She is one of the state’s key witnesses, and was even thanked during the press conference announcing the charges against Michael in 2020. Walking in, I already saw Alissa Turney’s biological father.

If you’ve been following cases like the Bryan Patrick Miller trial, this case is VERY different. That trial took 8 months, this one will take around two weeks (technically less than). That was a bench trial and this is a jury trial. Witnesses will be important to the state, because their case is based on lots of circumstantial evidence.

Sarah Turney is back on the stand. The state is starting by showing her some family pictures and asking about Alissa’s friendships. She is emotional while speaking.

The state is now showing the alleged note left by Alissa when she dissapeared in 2001. The note says:
“When you droped (that’s the spelling me off at school today I decided that really (a few words you can’t make out) going to California. Sarah you said you didn’t want me around. Look you got it I’m gone! That’s why I saved my money. Dad I took $300 from you.”

Sarah says she didn’t want Alissa to leave that she took care of her…even got her dressed in the morning if she was there.

Sarah says the only memory she has of going to look for Alissa was once. She says they went to the beach and mall, and she remembers handing out flyers for a few minutes. She doesn’t remember any other trips.

Sarah says despite her desire to keep her sister’s belongings she was unaware that they weren’t kept. She says she was unaware her dad picked Alissa up from school the day she went missing until police raided the house in 2008.


Cross examination has begun by the defense attorney, who has taken a very aggressive approach in questioning Sarah. He is attacking the relationship Sarah and Alissa had, pointing to them fighting a lot, criticizing each other, being jealous of one another, and asking if she lied to police at the time.

They are asking Alissa about an interview with police discussing how she apparently described her sister then, a partier, irresponsible, wanted to take in the world. Sarah has said several times that those were things her dad told her and made her believe. She even at one point used the word “brainwashed”.

Defense attorneys are now asking questions about the day Alissa went missing.


We are now on lunch break. Court resumes at 1:30.


Sorry this tweet published late. We are now back and there is discussion over evidence the defense wants admitted (basically shown) to the jury.


Defense continues to ask Sarah about what was said in an interview to police. Specifically about the day Alissa went missing, the trip to California, and now they are asking her about the recorded phone calls that were brought up Thursday.

Defense is continuing aggressive questioning about Sarah's statements earlier...these are focused on what her father allegedly said during the 2017 conversation and her sister's high school relationships.

Defense has finished with their cross-examination. Questions were used to try and paint a different picture of Alissa, her relationship with her sister, and the recordings (camera/phone recordings) brought up Thursday.


The jurors have submitted questions. The attorneys saw them, and the judge is now asking Sarah to answer. The questions: - Describe your father...jobs, girlfriends, etc. - Why did you describe your sister as brave.


The state's third witness has been called. She has asked her face not be shared by the media.

Her name is Sandra and she managed Alissa at Jack N' the Box for about 6 months.

Some of what happened back in 2001, Alissa's manager did not have great recollection of. She described Alissa as a good employee and said Michael would be in the parking lot and visit when Alissa would work. But she also said that there was a possibility that Michael would have bee picking Alissa up. We are now in afternoon break.


The state says they will be hopefully calling two more witnesses today. Their fourth (total) is now in the court room. Jury is back and break is over.

Charity Robinson (a friend of Alissa's) is the state's fourth witness. The state is asking questions about her Alissa and her life back with Charity knew her.

She says she's aware of a contract Alissa had signed because Alissa told her about it. Charity says Michael Turney tried to get her parents to sign a contract but "they did not oblige." She did not see the contracts but says her mom told her about the interaction with Michael.


John Turney, Alissa's brother, has also been called as a witness in this case. He is on the stand now

John (Alissa’s brother) took the stand for a little bit answering general questions about his sister before court broke for the day. It will resume tomorrow at 10:15 am. He’s the state’s fifth witness.

 
  • #246
I don't recall when Sarah was first interviewed if she was a minor or exactly how old at the time of initial interview. Nonetheless the defense attorney is a bit aggressive (imo) with his questioning/comments. Is he using Sarah's words against her all these years later? Sarah is a victim too and her sister is most likely deceased. He shows no empathy about a missing young girl (Alissa -17 years of age at the time) and comes across as if it is not the norm for sisters to have disagreements especially with siblings that have an age difference between them such as Alissa and Sarah did.

Sarah is doing well during testimony. Defense is not rattling her.


All of this is a matter of my opinion.
IMO I know he is doing his job but some of the things got a huge eye roll from me. One was of the Sibling Jealousy and fighting. I can't imagine siblings keeping it 100% cool for 100% of their lives. LOL He really was trying to rattle her, but I think Sarah held on well. I wish the attorney would have had to give years when he was quoting some of the things he says she said in interviews. A 12-year-old, can easily be manipulated, especially by a parent. At that age a lot of kids still believe their parents can do no wrong, and don't lie. Even as a really young adult, she was most likely still working through what was told to her. It is really unfortunate that it was used against her. I really hope the jury can see through it though. I also was a little disturbed by his questioning about Alissa cheating on her boyfriend as if a 17 year old is sharing her entire love life with her 12 year old sister and it annoyed me with the picture he tried to paint Alissa in with the cheating, sex & drugs. Asking about Weed smoking as if it has not been more normalized. Really trying to push the narrative that her drugs & sex life made her this wild teen was a reason to run away. A wild teen wouldn't have gotten such praise from management though. The manager seemed to really enjoy her as a person. All MOO
 
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''Streamed live 20 hours ago #ColdCase #AlyssaTurney #LawAndCrime
An Arizona man faces trial for allegedly killing his teenage stepdaughter more than 20 years ago. Seventy-five-year-old Michael Turney stands accused of murdering 17-year-old Alissa Turney after taking her out of school early in May 2001. The teen’s body was never found. Nearly 20 years later, Michael Turney was arrested after being indicted on a second-degree murder charge by a grand jury. ''
 
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IMO I know he is doing his job but some of the things got a huge eye roll from me. One was of the Sibling Jealousy and fighting. I can't imagine siblings keeping it 100% cool for 100% of their lives. LOL He really was trying to rattle her, but I think Sarah held on well. I wish the attorney would have had to give years when he was quoting some of the things he says she said in interviews. A 12-year-old, can easily be manipulated, especially by a parent. At that age a lot of kids still believe their parents can do no wrong, and don't lie. Even as a really young adult, she was most likely still working through what was told to her. It is really unfortunate that it was used against her. I really hope the jury can see through it though. I also was a little disturbed by his questioning about Alissa cheating on her boyfriend as if a 17 year old is sharing her entire love life with her 12 year old sister and it annoyed me with the picture he tried to paint Alissa in with the cheating, sex & drugs. Asking about Weed smoking as if it has not been more normalized. Really trying to push the narrative that her drugs & sex life made her this wild teen was a reason to run away. A wild teen wouldn't have gotten such praise from management though. The manager seemed to really enjoy her as a person. All MOO
Well said, and thank you so much. Defense made me almost roll my eyes into another dimension.

Alissa sounded to me as a normal teen and on top of being sm by her father she was mild in her behavior in my opinion. It's my understanding that defense's questioning will not look favorable by the jurors. moo
 
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TURNEY TRIAL DAY 2: Key testimony from Sarah Turney was heard today in court. She described an eerie conversation with Michael Turney in 2017, saying he would give her answers on his “death bed”. When asked about previous statements she had given detectives, she said she had been “brainwashed” to believe what Michael said about Alissa. Defense attorneys firing back in court, working to paint Alissa and her relationships in a different light. John Turney will continue his testimony Tuesday morning.

 
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Day 3 of the Turney trial will begin in about 30 minutes.
 
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DAILY TRIAL UPDATES

DAY 2 – 7/10/23


  • The state showed the jurors Alissa’s handwritten note that was left behind in her room the day she disappeared.
  • Sarah Turney testified she asked Turney what happened to Alissa and he responded he would tell her on his death bed.
  • Sarah made sure to tell the jury that she believed she was brainwashed by Turney to believe everything he told her about Alissa.
  • The jury asked Sarah to describe Turney more and why she had described Alissa as brave.
  • John Turney, Alissa’s brother, began direct examination.
 
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WATCH LIVE: Arizona Teen Cold Case Murder Trial — AZ v. Michael Turney — Day Three​

 
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On the stand: State's witness, John Turney (son of the defendant)
 
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''Streamed live 20 hours ago #ColdCase #AlyssaTurney #LawAndCrime
An Arizona man faces trial for allegedly killing his teenage stepdaughter more than 20 years ago. Seventy-five-year-old Michael Turney stands accused of murdering 17-year-old Alissa Turney after taking her out of school early in May 2001. The teen’s body was never found. Nearly 20 years later, Michael Turney was arrested after being indicted on a second-degree murder charge by a grand jury. ''
Thank you! I didn't realize we could re watch it. I missed her friend yesterday. Trying to catch up before today's live stream. I think there is one today...
 
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cross-examination (delayed post)
 
  • #256
Defense Ms. Hicks done with cross. State redirect.
 
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Counsels having an on the record sidebar at this time.
 
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John Turney testimony is complete. No jury questions and a new witness.
 
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Alissa's stepbrother James Turney is on the stand.
 
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Breaking for lunch. Recess until 1:15 pm PT.
 

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