Monterey Park Police Department announced the arrest of Jeffrey Chao on suspicion of child abduction, conspiracy, and falsifying a police report about his 15-year-old daughter's disappearance. Alison Jillian Chao was missing for approximately a week before being found safe in Glendale. The police credited their "dedicated efforts and collaboration with other agencies" as pivotal in ensuring Alison's safety, as reported by the City of Monterey Park official announcements.
According to a news conference captured by NBC Los Angeles, Jeffrey Chao thanked the community for their efforts in locating his daughter. "We've been really worried about where she's been," the father said. "We really appreciate what everyone's done and helped out with." This statement came despite the later revelations of his arrest and alleged involvement in her disappearance.
Alison became a subject of community concern when she was reported missing on July 16 after she did not reach her aunt's home in San Gabriel, as per a report by Hoodline. The search included social media campaigns and local volunteers distributing flyers, as her family and law enforcement appealed to the public for any information regarding her whereabouts.
The circumstances around Alison's week-long absence are yet to be clarified, as the Monterey Park Police Department has provided no further details and continues its investigation. Her mother, Annie Chao, was granted temporary physical custody last week, according to family law attorney Hannah Bui, suggesting the context of a custody dispute between the parents, as detailed by NBC Los Angeles.
