Case finally resolved: US girl who went missing in 1994 at 13 found alive

A girl who disappeared in Arizona, US in 1994 when she was 13 years old has been found alive, per authorities.

On Wednesday, April 1, Gila County Sheriff J. Adam Shepherd announced police had successfully resolved the missing person case that had plagued the community for decades.

According to the missing person poster circulated by the sheriff's office in 1994, 13-year-old Christina Marie Plante was last seen past noon on May 15, 1994 near her home in Star Valley, Arizona. She was headed on foot to see her horse in a nearby stable, and had not been seen since. 

An extensive search followed involving local police, volunteers, and regional resources. Efforts included ground searches, interviews, and follow-up investigations, but to no avail then. 

Plante was entered into the national missing children databases. Her information was also printed in missing person flyers, which were distributed throughout her community, across the state, and in several parts of the US. 

Although investigators also periodically re-examined existing evidence and pursued new leads, nothing bore fruit. 

A break in the case occurred when, years later, the Gila County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit was formed. The unit's main task is to re-investigate unresolved cases. 

"Utilizing advances in technology, modern investigative techniques, and detailed case review, detectives developed new leads that ultimately led to a breakthrough," the sheriff wrote. 

"After 32 years, Christina Marie Plante has been located alive. Investigators have confirmed her identity, and her status as a missing person has been officially resolved," he continued. 

The sheriff's office added that out of respect for Plante's "privacy and well-being," no other details would be released for now.