"I told the state very early on. You know, if we don't win this, it's going to be very much a Casey Anthony O.J. Simpson situation and that public opinion is what it is. And like I said, I know the truth. And I have a lot of peace in that. I don't need a judge or a jury to tell me what I already know what the police already know." — Sarah Turnie
"I think the main issue is they just didn't study the case, you know, and leading up to the case or to the trial, the prosecutor events in Bardino had another, another case. Now killer Brian Patrick Miller and so for three years, I was constantly told that case takes priority, that is our case right now, that is the case we're working on. So I think they literally just did not know this case and they also just didn't use as much evidence as we were told would be used." — Sarah Turnie
"And so I just want to say to all the families out there listening, don't give up just because this didn't go the way that I think most people wanted it to or thought it would. Don't give up. There's still a lot of hope out there and yeah, I just don't want to discourage families." — Sarah Turnie
This episode features an update on a case previously covered by Crime Junkie, focusing on the recent acquittal of Michael Turnie on murder charges. Host Ashley Flowers speaks with Sarah Turnie, the victim's sister and an advocate, who shares her perspective on the trial's outcome. Sarah expresses that while the acquittal was not what she wanted, it was somewhat expected due to what she perceived as the prosecution's lack of familiarity with the case and insufficient presentation of evidence. She details instances where potentially crucial evidence, such as a note left by Alyssa and an audio recording of a confession, were not effectively used or were deemed inadmissible.
Sarah also discusses the emotional toll of dedicating two decades to advocating for her sister and the challenges of navigating the legal process, including being kept in the dark by investigators and prosecutors due to defense tactics. She highlights how significant evidence, including testimony about past abuse and even allegations of sexual assault, was excluded due to proximity in time to Alyssa's disappearance or statute of limitations. Despite the acquittal, Sarah expresses a sense of peace and closure, stating that she knows the truth and doesn't require a legal verdict to validate it.
The conversation shifts to Sarah's personal journey of healing and rediscovery, referring to this new phase as her "Sarah era." She plans to revisit her sister's story on her own platform, "Voices for Justice," to share the full narrative and provide updates on developments. Both Sarah and Ashley reflect on their early collaboration, recalling a significant early recording issue that ultimately strengthened their bond and led to a lasting friendship and podcasting career for Ashley. Sarah encourages other families fighting for justice to remain persistent despite setbacks.