Cold cases are seemingly solved every week on television procedural dramas, but rarely is one solved in real life. Especially one that is 32 years old.
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And yet, a 13-year-old girl missing for decades has been found alive. According to the New York Post, Christina Marie Plante was believed to have been kidnapped in 1994. Then, authorities revealed this week that the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl has been found, living another life.
What Happened to Christina Marie Plante?
In May 1994, Plante was last seen walking from her home in Star Valley, Arizona, a small town northeast of Phoenix, to visit a nearby horse stable.
At the time, the case was classified as "missing/endangered under suspicious circumstances." Volunteers and law enforcement conducted extensive nationwide searches for Plante. However, no solid leads were found, and the case eventually went cold.
As technology and techniques improved, investigators revisited the case periodically. The case remained unsolved until now.
A Cold Case Is Solved
While investigators with the Gila County Sheriff's Office have not specified the exact details on how they closed the case, they credited advancements in technology with helping them find Plante.
"I was dumbfounded," Capt. Jamie Garrett told reporters on Thursday, April 2. "I guess she wasn't happy with where she was living and who she was living with, and she ran away."
Garrett was the investigator who reached out to Plante to confirm her identity. She is now a 44-year-old woman. Garrett verified that she was able to flee home with the help of other family members 32 years ago.
He said, "I was like, 'Oh, my gosh. Okay, so you ran away.' I told her ... 'You know, we were under the impression that somebody kidnapped you. It was deemed a criminal offense.'"
Plante didn't offer other details, but apparently has been living under a different name for years.
"She said that was a long time ago, that was an old life," Garrett said. "She's in her adult life. She has her family now. That's not something she even thinks about."
To protect "Christina's privacy and well-being," authorities are not releasing any other details about the case. But like any great drama, it seems like everyone got the ending they wanted.
