A woman who vanished as a 13-year-old in Arizona more than 30 years ago has been found alive. Christina Maria Plante disappeared in 1994 after leaving her home to visit her horse at a nearby stable.
The sheriff's office said the search came to an end after exhausting numerous resources in trying to find her.
"Christina was reported missing after she vanished without a trace from her community. At the time of her disappearance, extensive search efforts were conducted involving local law enforcement, volunteers, and regional resources. Despite exhaustive ground searches, interviews, and investigative follow-up, no viable leads were developed," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
Christina was originally reported missing by her uncle, Gary Plante. At the time of her disappearance, extensive search efforts were conducted involving local law enforcement, volunteers, and regional resources. Search and Rescue personnel were able to track the alleged vehicle associated with Christina’s disappearance to a local hotel. At that point, the case was turned over to the Criminal Investigations Unit for further follow-up.
Due to a lack of investigative leads, the case was placed in a cold case status.
The Gila County Sheriff’s Office cold case unit recently located her with the use of current technology. However, she was not willing to cooperate with investigators regarding the circumstances of her disappearance.
The sheriff's office said it periodically reviews cold cases, and now considers this one resolved after confirming her identity.
"This case underscores the importance of cold case review initiatives and the impact of evolving technology in bringing long-awaited answers to families and communities. The Sheriff's Office extends its gratitude to the investigators, analysts, partner agencies, and community members who contributed to keeping this case active over the decades," the office said.
Chief Deputy Jim Lahti from the Gila County Sheriff's Office spoke to ABC15's Ashley Holden about the case of a missing teen who was found alive 32 years later. Watch the full interview in the video player below.
