The remains of a missing 17-year-old teenager have been located and recovered after she disappeared seven years ago.
Alexis Tiara Murphy went missing on August 3, 2013, when she left her Shipman home to visit Lynchburg. She was seen in a Lovingston gas station’s surveillance footage, which was also the last time she was seen alive.
According to ABC17 News, local, state, and federal authorities conducted numerous searches after she went missing.
Murphy’s remains were found on December 3 on a private property located in Lovingston. They were then sent to the Chief Medical Examiner’s office in Richmond for identification. It was on February 5 that the remains were identified as the missing Virginia teen.
To give the family time to grieve and make proper arrangements, authorities delayed announcing the news to the public.
“While we have been grieving the loss of Alexis since 2013, we remained hopeful that she would be found alive and well. Alexis was the fashionista, athlete and joker of our family; we were blessed to have loved her for 17 years and her memory will continue to live on through us all,” her family said in a statement.
The gas station footage also showed Randy Taylor, 48. He was later convicted in the teenager’s murder and sentenced to two life terms. His appeal to overturn the conviction was denied.
“With the comprehensive investigation, successful prosecution by the Nelson County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the recovery of Alexis, this case is now no longer active,” the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office said.
