Missing 13-year-old found alive after 30 years

STAR VALLEY, Ariz. (Gray News) – A woman who went missing more than 30 years ago when she was 13 has been found alive.

Christina Marie Plante went missing on May 15, 1994, from the town of Star Valley, Arizona.

According to the Gila County Sheriff’s Office, an extensive effort was launched to find Plante. However, despite countless searches and interviews, there were no viable leads and she remained missing.

But investigators never fully gave up on finding her.

“Over the years, the case remained open and active, with investigators periodically re-examining evidence and pursuing new information as it became available,” the Gila County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Now, 32 years since her disappearance, the Gila County Sheriff’s Office said it has found Plante, now 44, alive. The sheriff’s office said investigators confirmed her identity and her missing person case is officially resolved.

The sheriff’s office said the formation of its cold case unit sparked the “renewed commitment” that led to finding Plante. It said technological advances, modern investigative techniques and a detailed case review helped the unit solve her disappearance.

“This case underscores the importance of cold case review initiatives and the impact of evolving technologies in bringing long-awaited answers to families and communities,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Gila County Sheriff’s Office said it will not provide any further details out of respect for Plante’s privacy and well-being.

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