Missing 13-Year-Old Found Alive After 30 Years

A woman who disappeared from Arizona in 1994 when she was 13 years old has been found alive more than 30 years after her disappearance.

Christina Marie Plante, now 44, was located and identified by authorities, bringing a decades-old missing-person case to a close. The Gila County Sheriff’s Office announced the successful resolution of the case on April 1, 2026.

Plante was last seen on May 15, 1994, when she left her home in the Payson-Star Valley area, northeast of Phoenix, to walk to a nearby stable where her horse was kept. At the time of her disappearance, authorities classified the case as occurring under endangered and suspicious circumstances.

Initial Search and Cold Case Status

Following her disappearance, law enforcement and volunteers conducted extensive ground searches, interviews, and other investigative efforts. Despite these actions, no viable leads were developed, and the case eventually went cold.

Plante’s information was entered into national missing children databases, and flyers were distributed across the United States in an attempt to locate her. While the case remained inactive for years, it was never formally closed.

The investigation was eventually assigned to the Gila County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit. Prior to locating her, the unit issued a fresh appeal for information, providing a description of Plante’s appearance at age 44, noting she had blue eyes and naturally dark blond hair.

Resolution and Identification

Investigators reached a breakthrough by utilizing modern investigative techniques, advances in technology, and a detailed review of the case file. These efforts allowed detectives to develop new leads that ultimately led to Plante’s discovery.

Investigators have confirmed her identity, and her status as a missing person has been officially resolved

Gila County Sheriff’s Office

While the identity of the woman has been confirmed, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office stated they are not releasing further information regarding the case to respect Plante’s privacy.

Due to these privacy restrictions, authorities have not specified where Plante was found, how she was located, or where she has been living for the past 32 years. An investigator indicated that Plante had left on purpose in 1994.