A GIRL who vanished without a trace from a small town 32 years ago has been found alive.
Christina Marie Plante, now 44, was located and identified this week, breaking open a decades-long .
Christina Marie Plante disappeared from her Arizona home aged 13Credit: Gila County Sheriff's Office
She has now been located 32 years later at the age of 44Credit: Gila County Sheriff's Office
She was last seen at the age of 13 leaving her home in Star Valley, on May 15, 1994.
She set off on foot to the stable where her horse was kept but “vanished without a trace” and “was not seen again”.
Her was classed as occurring under “endangered and suspicious circumstances”, sparking a frantic search effort.
Missing person flyers blasted about town said she was last spotted wearing a white T-shirt, multicoloured shorts and black tennis shoes.
Local enforcement, volunteers and regional resources all took to the streets in a desperate bid to find the missing girl.
But the exhaustive operation could not produce any viable leads and the case went cold.
Christina was entered into according to the sheriff’s office.
Flyers urging the public to offer information that could lead to her whereabouts were distributed locally, statewide and in other parts of the country.
The case never formally closed, with investigators re-examining evidence and perusing new leads periodically.
It was later assigned to the Gila County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit.
The sheriff’s office said the creation of its Cold Case Unit “marked a renewed commitment to”.
Officers were able to take advantage of modern technology and investigative techniques.
After a detailed case review, the unit made a “breakthrough”, the sheriff’s office said.
Now, 32 years after her disappearance, Plante has been “located alive”.
Her identity has been confirmed and her status as missing person officially resolved.
The unit reportedly made a fresh appeal for information on the cold case prior to locating her.
This included a description of the circumstances under which she went missing and an update on her appearance and current age.
The sheriff’s office added that “out of respect for Christina’s privacy and well-being, additional details will not be released at this time”.
“The Gila County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to pursuing all unresolved cases and encourages anyone with information regarding other cold cases to come forward,” the statement added.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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