Girl who vanished without a trace 32 years ago found alive

Christina Plante was 13 years old when she vanished without a trace, but a police breakthrough has now solved the case years later.

Christina Marie Plante was only recently located after a sudden breakthrough in the case, decades after she disappeared without a trace from the tiny town of Star Valley, northeast of Phoenix.

Authorities haven’t released any details on what led to her being found, but noted that “advances in technology, modern investigative techniques and detailed case review” helped detectives to lead to the breakthrough.

The blue-eyed, blonde vanished after she set off to see her horse in a stable near her home back in May 1994.

Missing person flyers spread through the town noted she was last spotted wearing a white T-shirt, multi-coloured shorts and black tennis shoes.

The pre-teen’s disappearance was described at the time as “suspicious” and authorities warned she was “endangered.”

She disappeared “without a trace” with a major search operation throughout the mountainous region leading to no signs of her.

Several interviews were conducted into her disappearance and investigative efforts were exhausted, but the police’s work never amounted to a lead.

The reason behind her disappearance has not yet been revealed.

Over the years the case went cold, but was never officially closed by investigators.

It was reviewed periodically by a specialised unit.

“Christina was entered into national missing children databases, and missing person flyers were distributed locally, statewide and in other parts of the country,” local authorities said in a statement.

“Over the years, the case remained open and active, with investigators periodically re-examining evidence and pursuing new information as it became available.”

“After 32 years, Christina Marie Plante has been located alive,” the statement added.

Authorities said they weren’t releasing any further details about the case “out of respect for Christina’s privacy and wellbeing.”