As Phoenix wrestles with a shortage of law enforcement resources, the plight of missing persons in Arizona becomes even more stark. Four teenagers, Annabelle Barrientos, Laina Osife, Harmony Davis, and Velma Fulwilder, were last seen on January 28, as reported on February 4 by the Maricopa Police Department. These young individuals, all from the same group home, vanished into the night, leaving authorities scrambling for clues. The Maricopa police have urged anyone with information to reach out at 520-568-3673.
Another youth, 17-year-old Lucas Enos of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, has been missing since December 11, 2023. In an effort to actively find solutions, the Salt River Police, who can be contacted at (480) 850-9230, are appealing to the public's sense of duty to assist. Meanwhile, Braonain Dakota McGinnis's abandoned car was discovered on US 89A, igniting concerns as detectives have been left to piece together scant clues in search of his whereabouts, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
The disappearance of Alissa Turney in 2001 continues to haunt her family; the Phoenix Police Department's dissolution of their missing persons cold case unit only serves to aggravate their sense of abandonment. Sarah Turney, Alissa's sister, has been a tireless advocate, grappling with the stark realities of a police department that now lacks a dedicated team for cases such as hers. "Alissa is still missing. Are they still working on it? It doesn’t seem like it," Sarah Turney told AZFamily during an interview.
While Sarah navigates through the justice system and contemplates the next steps for "Justice for Alissa," Brandy Myers' sister, Kristin Dennis, is confronted with a similar struggle. The Phoenix Police consider her sister's case "solved but not resolved," a determination that fails to bring closure. Compared to Mesa Police, which investigates 103 cold case homicides with a seven-person team, Phoenix's heavily understaffed unit must grapple with over 3,000 cases with just three people. Sarah and Kristin are advocating for the hiring of more civilian investigators to fill the gaping void left by the department's resource crisis.
