Friends, what started as a week-long search for 15-year-old Allison Chao concluded happily on Tuesday, July 23. Authorities found the 15-year-old safe in Glendale, California. Apparently, she had been reported missing from Los Angeles County on Tuesday, July 16, and was later identified by a concerned citizen.
According to officials, Alison Chao is perfectly OK and has reunited with her family. The Monetary Park Police Department, the lead investigators, also thanked the public for their assistance. While details surrounding Chao’s disappearance and subsequent discovery are still ongoing, let’s briefly examine what happened.
When Did Alison Jillian Chao Go Missing?
Alison Chao went missing on Tuesday, July 16, after she left her father’s house in Monterey Park, California, around 5:30 p.m. She was supposed to ride a bike to her aunt’s house in San Gabriel, California. However, by 8 p.m. that evening, her aunt informed her father, Jeffery Chao, that Alison Chao had not arrived.
On the morning of July 23, a security guard in Glendale noticed the teenager walking, followed by a woman in a car. The woman recognized Alison as the missing girl and contacted authorities, according to a report.
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The 47-year-old woman, who wished to stay anonymous, was only getting coffee when she noticed Alison Chao as she walked by her car. According to a report, the woman immediately observed something unusual about the girl’s demeanor.
As the woman puts it, “Something about the way she was walking; it didn’t seem like she was going to someplace in particular.” She felt a strong intuition to follow Alison, thinking she might be the missing girl.
As Alison Chao walked past the KABC security guard, the woman promptly alerted him. Alison revealed to the woman and the guard that she had run away from home and did not want to return. She also reportedly mentioned her intention to go to KABC to share her story.
Alison Chao’s Parent Reaction and Statement
During a press conference on July 23, Alison Chao’s father and her aunt thanked the public for their support.
Jeffery Chao stated, “I really appreciate everyone coming out. I’d really like to thank all the friends and the community that came out and helped find her. We’ve been really worried about where she’s been and really appreciate what everybody’s done and helped out with.”
The family also confirmed that Alison Chao’s mother, Annie, now has temporary custody of the teenager. Attorney Gregory E. Almas, speaking on behalf of Annie, shared that upon her daughter’s safe return, Annie felt a sense of relief, saying, “My love for Alison is unconditional and unwavering. Alison is my only child, and she means everything to me.”
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Annie also expressed gratitude to the good Samaritan who helped escort Alison to the authorities. She acknowledged the community’s support over the past week and stressed her commitment to helping Alison heal.
She stated, “I am committed to doing everything possible to help Alison move forward and heal in the days and weeks ahead.”
A Possible Reason Alison Chao Went Missing
According to Annie, Alison Chao reacted badly to her and her father’s recent divorce. She stated, “Alison is a young girl, and her feelings about my divorce from her father are understandably complicated. But she has a family (both my side and her dad’s side) that loves and adores her.”
She also vowed to “always do [her] best to protect Alison’s interests.” The divorce could be a reason for Alison’s disappearance; who knows? Well, thankfully, a report confirmed that Annie has sole custody and sole decision-making authority for Alison Chao.
Alison Chao’s case is quite complex, and it’s disheartening that some misleading social media posts have emerged, exacerbating the situation. A complex case like this should not be in the public forum, as third parties obviously do not understand the facts.
While a source reported that efforts to remove the posts are ongoing, Alison Chao is safe and sound with her family!
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