Monterey Park police arrest father of 15-year-old girl who went missing

The father of a teen who went missing for about a week in Monterey Park was arrested Friday on suspicion of child abduction and other alleged crimes, police announced Friday.

Jeffery Chao was also taken into custody for alleged conspiracy and falsifying a police report in connection with the disappearance of 15-year-old Alison Jillian Chao, who went missing July 16 but was found safe Tuesday.

“The department’s dedicated efforts and collaboration with other agencies were pivotal in resolving this critical situation and ensuring Alison Chao’s safety,” according to a statement from Monterey Park police spokesman Sgt. Rudy Contreras.

“The Monterey Park Police Department Investigations Bureau is still currently investigating this incident and has no further comment at this time,” the statement continued. “We want to assure the community of Monterey Park that the department remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety and well-being of residents. We appreciate your continued support during this investigation.”

The girl’s parents Jefferey and Annie Chao are embroiled in a divorce and child-custody battle, and a judge recently awarded the mother full custody of the now formerly missing teen.

Before she was located, Alison was last seen around 6:20 p.m. July 16 in the 4400 block of Collis Avenue in Los Angeles’ El Sereno area, according to police. She had left her father’s house in Monterey Park earlier in the day to go to an aunt’s home in San Gabriel but never arrived, according to police and relatives. Several surveillance cameras in the area recorded Alison on riding a blue mountain bike and carrying a black backpack.

The girl’s vanishing spurred many calls for help from the public in finding her, and local residents took part in a number of search operations that did not locate Alison.

She was found Tuesday morning when a person recognized her in Glendale and called authorities. Glendale police recovered the teen near the ABC7 office complex. The television station reported that one of its security guards said the girl was on foot and being followed by the individual in a vehicle who recognized her.

At a news conference later that day with his attorney and family members, Jeffery Chao thanked the public for helping to find his daughter.

“We have been really worried about where she’s been, and you know, really appreciate what everybody’s done and helped out with,” he said. “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.”

The girl’s mother released statements also thanking the public for efforts to find the missing girl. Annie Chao also blasted what she called “misinformation” in social media posts.

“The misinformation being spread like wildfire via social media and even on flyers being posted at Alison’s school has led to threats of physical violence against me and multiple people,” she said Friday.

“Alison is a young girl and her feelings about my divorce from her father and understandably complicated, but she has a family, both my side and her dad’s side, that loves and adores her,” Annie Chao said Tuesday.

She also said in her Tuesday statement that she “will continue to communicate with law enforcement authorities and I hope to have a better understanding regarding the circumstances surrounding Alison’s disappearance very soon.”

Emily Robinson, a court-appointed attorney for Alison, issued a statement Tuesday decrying speculation about the case on social media platforms.

“This is a very complex situation that should not be in the public forum,” Robinson said. “It is being rendered even more damaging to Alison by misleading and inaccurate social media posts from third parties that have virtually no understanding of the facts. Upon being made aware of these posts, I have reported them to the social media companies on which they are hosted in the hopes that the companies will quickly act and take them down due to the inaccuracies contained therein. The posts are rife with misrepresentations and false statements and hindered the investigation into Alison’s whereabouts and efforts by her family and the police to ensure her safe return.”