In the months following Alyssa's disappearance, several theories and suspects emerged. One of the earliest leads was a reported sighting of Alyssa at a gas station in Huntsville, but this was later deemed to be a hoax.
The UNA police department, assisted by the Madison County Sheriff's Office and the FBI, conducted an extensive search for Alyssa. They reviewed security footage, interviewed friends and acquaintances, and searched potential locations where Alyssa might have been. The investigation revealed that Alyssa's phone had been active until around 10:30 p.m. on the night of her disappearance, with a final location pinpointed to a rural area in Madison County. alyssa branch
As the search continued, authorities discovered that Alyssa's car was still parked at the sorority house, and her personal belongings, including her purse and phone charger, were still in her room. This suggested that she had left voluntarily, but without her vehicle. In March 2018
In January 2022, the UNA police department announced that they had reopened the case, with a renewed focus on reviewing old evidence and pursuing new leads. The department also revealed that they had received over 1,000 tips and leads since Alyssa's disappearance, but none had yielded concrete results. As the search continued
This new lead sparked renewed interest in the case, and authorities urged anyone with information to come forward. In August 2020, the FBI released a statement confirming that they were still actively investigating Alyssa's disappearance and encouraging the public to provide any relevant information.
In March 2018, the police announced that they were investigating a person of interest, later identified as 24-year-old Timothy Mounts. Mounts was a friend of Alyssa's, and the two had exchanged messages on social media in the days leading up to her disappearance. However, no concrete evidence linked Mounts to Alyssa's disappearance, and he was eventually cleared as a suspect.