The father of a 15-year-old Southern California girl who had been missing for about a week was arrested on suspicion of child kidnapping and other crimes, police announced on Friday.
Jeffrey Chao is also accused of falsify a police report in connection with the disappearance of Alison Jillian Chao, the Monterey Park Police Department said.
The elder Chao was being held without bail, according to José Romero, his lawyer, who declined to comment further.
Alison was reported missing on July 16 but was found safe on Tuesday in a mystery that triggered calls for public assistance and searches organized by residents.
“The department’s dedicated efforts and collaboration with other agencies were instrumental in resolving this critical situation and ensuring Alison Chao’s safety,” Monterey Park police said in a statement. “The Monterey Park Police Department Investigations Department is still investigating this incident and has no further comment at this time. We want to assure the Monterey Park community that the department remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety and well-being of residents.
According to the father’s family law attorney, Hannah Bui, Alison’s mother has sole legal custody of her for mental health reasons. Annie Chao was granted temporary physical custody last week, according to Bui.
Jeffery Chao spoke during a press conference on Tuesday, where he thanked his friends and community for helping find his daughter. The father’s lawyer said there was no suspicion of foul play or kidnapping.
“We are very concerned about where she was,” said the father. “We really appreciate what everyone has done and helped.”
Alison disappeared after she was last seen around 6:20 p.m. on July 16 in the 4400 block of Collis Avenue in the El Sereno area of Los Angeles, police said. The girl had left her father’s house in Monterey Park that afternoon and was heading to her aunt’s house in San Gabriel, riding a blue mountain bike and carrying a black backpack, but never arrived, according to police and relatives. She was seen riding her bike on several neighborhood surveillance cameras.
She was found Tuesday morning when a resident recognized her in the Glendale area and called authorities.
The teenager’s parents are in the middle of divorce proceedings and a custody dispute. Jeffrey Chao’s lawyer said Alison lived with her father, but her mother was recently granted temporary custody shortly before the teenager’s disappearance.
Details surrounding Alison’s disappearance remain unclear.
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