Alyssa Romine-Olson

Alyssa Romine-Olson was a deeply spiritual woman, known for her quiet, nurturing nature and her devotion to her faith. One of twelve children and the only biological daughter of her parents, 30-year-old Alyssa grew up in Gilbert, Arizona, in a large, non-denominational Christian family. Friends and family remember her as someone who connected with people in a gentle way, often babysitting her younger siblings and neighborhood kids. She was also content with solitude, spending her time journaling or listening to music. In her late twenties, her faith intensified, becoming the central force in her life. She embraced a more evangelical form of Christianity, relying on her beliefs to guide every decision, from what she wore to what she ate.

In 2012, Alyssa met Braden Olson at the International House of Prayer. They shared a fervent faith and their connection was immediate. After a whirlwind romance, they married that same year. For the next few years, the couple lived a nomadic life, traveling the country to preach and minister. They lived simply, often staying with friends and relying on some financial help from Alyssa's parents. Their world revolved around each other and their shared religious mission. This chapter of her life shifted in early 2016. In January, Alyssa suffered a dangerous ectopic pregnancy that required hospitalization for significant blood loss. The health crisis prompted her to move back into her parents' home in Gilbert to recover. By April, she and Braden had separated due to differences in their religious beliefs, and he moved back to Washington.

Back in her childhood home, Alyssa established a new routine. Most mornings, she would drive to the Southeast Regional Library, park her car, and then walk to the neighboring Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch. It was a place she loved, a peaceful setting where she would spend hours journaling and reading her Bible. On the morning of Thursday, June 9, 2016, she followed this routine, heading out to the preserve. At 10:00 a.m., her cellphone was turned off. When she didn't return home by that evening, her family grew deeply concerned. They searched for her at the library and the preserve before contacting the Gilbert Police Department to report her missing.

The search ended in tragedy the following day. On the afternoon of June 10, 2016, at 2:42 p.m., a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office helicopter crew spotted Alyssa’s body. She was found floating face-down and naked in Pond 7 of the preserve, near a restroom facility. An immediate search of the area failed to locate her clothing, car keys, cellphone, or the journal she always carried. None of these personal items have ever been recovered.

The Gilbert Police Department opened an investigation into her death under case number 16-9745. The initial narrative that emerged in some media coverage hinted at suicide, pointing to her recent health problems and separation from her husband. However, the findings of the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office told a different story. The autopsy revealed that Alyssa had no water in her lungs, indicating she had not drowned. Toxicology screens were negative for any drugs. The examination also found signs of physical assault and a possible sexual assault, pointing investigators firmly toward a homicide.

Over the years, the investigation has continued, but no arrests have been made. Police have looked into various leads, including a man named Luis Bueno who approached officers a day after Alyssa's body was found, claiming he heard a gunshot near the preserve on the morning she disappeared. He was later scheduled for a polygraph exam but failed to show up. In September 2016, Alyssa's mother and sister encountered a strange man while leaving flowers at the pond, an incident they reported to police. Despite these and other efforts, the case has grown cold.

Alyssa's family has been forced to grieve while fighting against the initial, misleading insinuations about her death and waiting for answers. They remember a loving daughter and sister whose life was taken violently. As of August 2026, a decade after her death, Alyssa Romine-Olson's case remains an active and unsolved homicide investigation. The Gilbert Police Department continues to ask for the public's help. Anyone with information about what happened to Alyssa at the Riparian Preserve in June 2016 is urged to submit a tip to the Gilbert Police Department, referencing case #16-9745.