A 15-year-old girl who went missing from the Monterey Park area a week ago was found safe Tuesday.
Alison Jillian Chao had last been seen about 6:20 p.m. July 16 in the 4400 block of Collis Avenue in the El Sereno area of Los Angeles, according to the Monterey Park Police Department.
The girl had apparently left her father’s house in Monterey Park that afternoon and was heading toward an aunt’s home in San Gabriel, riding a blue mountain bike and carrying a black backpack, according to police and relatives. But she never showed up.
Monterey Park police said in a statement Tuesday that the girl “has been safely located this morning with the assistance of the Glendale Police Department.” No further details were released.
ABC7 reported that the girl was found near the station’s offices in Glendale. According to ABC7, a security guard at the station said the girl was on foot and was being followed by someone in a car who recognized her as the missing teen and called police.
Family members and friends had conducted extensive search efforts in the area while Alison was missing.
“I’d really like to thank all the friends and community that’s come out to help find her,” Alison’s father, Jeffery Chao told reporters in a downtown Los Angeles news conference. “We have been really worried about where she’s been, and you know, really appreciate what everybody’s done and helped out with.
“… It’s just been very tiring, I’ve been very concerned. I just want what’s in the best interest of Alison at this point,” he said.
It remained unclear what happened to the girl or where she spent the past week. Her father’s attorney, Jose Romero, told reporters that no foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
The girl is believed to be in the temporary custody of the county Department of Children and Family Services. Alison’s parents are in the midst of a divorce and custody battle over the girl.