A 15-year-old girl who went missing in Monterey Park last week was found safe on Tuesday morning outside ABC7’s office in Glendale.
Alison Jillian Chao was reported missing on the afternoon of July 16. A security guard at ABC7 saw her walking and noticed she had been followed by someone in a car. The driver recognized her from the missing person report and called the police.
The Monterey Park Police Department, which is investigating the case, thanked the community and various agencies for their help.
Alison had left her home on a bike around 5:30 p.m. on July 16, planning to go to her aunt’s house in San Gabriel, but she never arrived. Her father, Jeffery Chao, and her aunt held a press conference to thank everyone who helped search for Alison. They couldn’t answer many questions about the situation due to ongoing legal matters.
The family confirmed that Alison’s mother was recently given temporary full custody of her. Alison’s aunt believes Alison ran away because she didn’t want to be with her mother.
The family is unsure where Alison was for the past week. Jeffery Chao expressed gratitude to everyone who helped find Alison and said they had been very worried about her.
The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services said it cannot share information about its involvement due to confidentiality laws.
Alison’s mother, Annie Chao, released a statement through her attorney. She expressed relief that Alison was found safe and thanked the good Samaritan who helped. She asked people to stop spreading false information online and emphasized her unconditional love for Alison.
Alison’s attorney, Emily Robinson, who was appointed in May, released a statement saying that the court has thoroughly reviewed the case and made decisions in Alison’s best interest. Robinson also requested that social media platforms remove inaccurate posts that hindered the investigation.