A woman who vanished from her Arizona home 32 years ago as a 13-year-old has been found alive, authorities confirmed this week. Christina Marie Plante was reported missing in May 1994 from Star Valley, Arizona, after she 'vanished without a trace from her community', the Gila County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on Wednesday.
Investigators said she was last seen leaving her home on foot to go to the stable where her horse was kept, and was never seen again. At the time, an extensive search involving local law enforcement, volunteers and regional resources was launched, but 'exhaustive ground searches, interviews, and investigative follow-up' yielded no viable leads.
Plante was entered into national missing children databases and flyers were distributed locally, statewide and across the country. Over the years, investigators periodically revisited the case, re-examining evidence and pursuing new information. The creation of the Cold Case Unit marked a renewed commitment, and 'utilizing advances in technology, modern investigative techniques, and detailed case review, detectives developed new leads that ultimately led to a breakthrough'.
Now, 32 years later, the sheriff's office announced that Plante had been 'located alive', with her identity confirmed and her missing person status officially resolved. 'Out of respect for Christina's privacy and well-being, additional details will not be released at this time,' the statement added. The office encouraged anyone with information on other cold cases to come forward.
