A California mother’s trip to see her children turned into a nightmare when she vanished without a trace, only for police to make a gruesome discovery inside her ex-boyfriend’s home.
Tatiana McIntyre, also known as Alison Riley, was last seen on Tuesday when she arrived at Jeffrey Vernon Michaels’ residence in Fresno to visit their two kids. The 29-year-old never came back.
The alarm was raised on August 4 when she failed to pick up one of her children from school. Her ex-husband, alerted that the child was still waiting, couldn’t reach her and a frantic search began.
Family members say McIntyre’s phone last pinged at Michaels’ home around 1 p. m. before going silent.
Relatives tracked the Zipcar she had been driving to an orchard near McKinley and Academy avenues, where they found it abandoned with her belongings still inside.
Police later seized the vehicle as evidence and executed a search warrant at the home near Grove and Phillip streets, where property records show Michaels lives. Inside, detectives reportedly found McIntyre dead with several lacerations.
Authorities say Michaels initially fled Fresno after the killing but later contacted investigators and turned himself in Thursday evening. He is now held in the Fresno County Jail on a murder charge, with bail set at $1 million.
Police Chief Mindy Casto said investigators have not yet identified a motive. However, McIntyre’s mother alleged Michaels had previously abused her daughter, claiming he once choked her and prevented her from leaving a home. Family members also said he had a history of domestic violence.
The 29-year-old leaves behind seven children, including two she shared with Michaels. Her family has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses and care for the kids left behind.
If you are the victim of domestic 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮, or you know someone who is, help is available 24/7 by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.
What could have driven someone to such a tragic act?
