Father of Monterey Park teen who was missing for a week is arrested (2024)

The father of a Monterey Park teenager who disappeared for a week before being found safe outside a Glendale TV station was arrested Friday on suspicion of child abduction and other offenses, authorities announced.

Jeffrey Chao, the father of 15-year-old Alison Chao, was arrested on suspicion of child abduction, conspiracy and falsifying a police report, according to a Monterey Park Police Department news release.

“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 the release.

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The department is still investigating the case and declined to provide further details.

California

Missing Monterey Park teen found safe outside local TV station

There were no signs of foul play in the disappearance of Alison Chao, 15, a family lawyer said. Her last reported sighting had been July 16 after she went for a bike ride.

July 23, 2024

A Glendale woman who declined to give her name out of privacy concerns told The Times on Tuesday that she saw a girl who resembled Alison slipping into KABC’s offices in Glendale. The woman alerted a security guard, who brought the girl back outside.

The Glendale woman said that Alison told her she had run away from home and that she didn’t want to go back to her mother. Alison told her she was on her way to KABC to tell her side of the story.

Jose Romero, the attorney retained by Jeffrey Chao, said during a news conference Tuesday that Alison wasn’t kidnapped and that there wasn’t any indication of foul play.

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Romero declined to comment Tuesday on a video reportedly filmed by Alison the day before her disappearance. The video, which circulated on social media after Alison went missing, shows police officers arriving at a residence and urging Alison to come with them.

Romero didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Annie Chao, Alison’s mother, said in a Friday statement that she separated from Jeffrey Chao on March 10, 2023, and that she initially requested to share custody of Alison.

“I want the public to know that my family and I are good, decent people, and worthy of your trust,” Annie Chao said in the statement. “The misleading statements about us that have appeared on social media this week have been incredibly hurtful, unwarranted, and fueled by a small number of ‘influencers’ who do not have the full knowledge of my relationship with Alison or Jeff or of our home life prior to my filing for divorce.”

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According to a request for child custody filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in February, Annie Chao accused Jeffrey Chao of falsely accusing that she and her father had physically and sexually abused Alison. In the court filings, Annie Chao acknowledged that she and her father were arrested on April 24, 2023, on suspicion of the abuse allegations, though it was not immediately clear whether any charges were filed.

“I have dedicated myself to learning about domestic violence and alienating behaviors in order to understand the impact on Alison and myself,” Annie Chao wrote.

After her parents’ separation, Alison initially lived with her father, according to the court filing. After Annie Chao filed for divorce in April 2023, she requested joint custody but has since asked that she have sole physical and legal custody and that Jeffrey have supervised visits.

Annie Chao now has “sole physical custody” of Alison, Emily Robinson, Alison’s court-appointed counsel, said in an emailed statement to The Times.

According to Annie Chao’s filing, Jeffrey Chao didn’t make any allegations of abuse until after their separation. After Annie Chao filed for divorce, she said, he attempted to reconcile with her via third-party mediators and by sending her gifts.

Alison Chao disappeared after she was last seen in the 200 block of North Ynez Avenue in Monterey Park at 5:32 p.m. July 16. Monterey Park police initiated a missing-person investigation at 9:36 p.m. that evening, according to a department news release.

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California

A Monterey Park teen set off on her bike to visit a relative. She never arrived

Alison Chao, 15, hasn’t been heard from since Tuesday, when she left home on her bicycle for a short ride to see a family member in San Gabriel. Police are searching for clues.

July 20, 2024

The teen was riding a blue mountain bike en route to her aunt’s house in nearby San Gabriel, her family told KTLA.

The trip should have taken about 20 minutes, but her aunt called Jeffrey Chao around 8 p.m. to let him know his daughter still hadn’t arrived.

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Father of Monterey Park teen who was missing for a week is arrested (2024)

FAQs

Father of Monterey Park teen who was missing for a week is arrested? ›

Jeffery Chao, the father of a 15-year-old girl reported missing speaks during a press conference on July 23, 2024 after the girl was found safe. Jeffery Chao was arrested on July 26, 2024 and faces possible charges for child abduction and filing a false police report.

Has Alison Chao been found? ›

Alison Chao, who was reported missing earlier in July, has been found safe, according to authorities. Chao, 15, was found on Tuesday morning outside the office of local news station in Glendale, California, following significant public attention and concern.

Who is Alison Chao? ›

Alison Chao was found safe a week after the 15-year-old disappeared while on a bike ride to a relative's house in the San Gabriel Valley. Jenny Chao said she was surprised to learn her brother had been arrested.

When did Alison Chao go missing? ›

Allison Jillian Chao. Photo: Monterey Park Police Dept. The 15-year-old girl who went missing in Los Angeles County on Tuesday, July 16 was found safe in Glendale, Calif. on Tuesday, July 23, per a Monterey Park Police Department press release.

Who is Gigi Chao married to? ›

Ms Chao, 33, who married her long-term partner Sean Eav in France in 2012, also emphasised: "There are plenty of good men, they are just not for me." Mr Chao last week reportedly offered to double his 2012 offer of $65m (£40m).

Is SCP-2747 evil? ›

SCP-2747 (also labeled as "As below, so above") is one of the overarching antagonists of the SCP Foundation series.

Who is Alison Burger? ›

Alison is a community catalyst, speaker, and co-founder of Optimistic Labs. Over the last 5 years she has built event focused companies as an entrepreneur, and has consulted with large brands to architect community around a shared purpose and vision.

Who made Alison go missing? ›

Mona Helps Ali Disappear After Her Mother Buried Her Alive

While she is eventually rescued by Mrs. Grunwald (Meg Foster), it is Mona who convinces Ali to hide at the Lost Woods resort, create the alias Vivian Darkbloom, and leave Rosewood.

When did Alia Peterson go missing? ›

Alia Peterson, 16, of College Station, hasn't been seen since Oct. 10. She is described as a biracial girl with black hair and brown eyes. She is about 5'3" and weighs about 148 pounds.

When did Kris Richardson go missing? ›

She would be 70 today. She stood 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighed 90 pounds, according to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation's missing person database. The database says Richardson is believed to have disappeared between 7:30 and 11:30 the evening of Oct. 6, 2014.

Who is the black queen in SCP? ›

The Black Queen is the title taken by Alison Chao, daughter of famous Foundation employee Dr. Gears, after discovering the Ways and coming into contact with her alternative versions from the multiverse.

Who is Alison DiLaurentis's older brother? ›

Drew Van Acker (born April 2, 1986) is an American actor, model and producer. He is known for playing Jason DiLaurentis, the older brother of Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse), on Freeform's Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017) and Ian Archer in Cartoon Network's Tower Prep (2010).

Who is Alison Fox CEO? ›

Alison is the CEO of American Prairie Reserve, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating the largest protected area complex ever assembled in the contiguous United States -for the benefit of wildlife and people alike, funded through private philanthropy, and located in the state of Montana.

Who is LS SCP? ›

Alison Chao, better known as the Black Queen or L. S., is a dimension-traveling thaumaturge who swore revenge against the SCP Foundation for taking away her father, Charles Gears.

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