The father of a 15-year-old girl who had been missing for about a week has been arrested on charges including child abduction, Monterey Park police announced Friday.
Jeffrey Chao is also accused of falsifying a police report in connection with the disappearance of Allison Jillian Chao, police said.
Chao’s lawyer, Jose Romero, said Chao is being held without bail but declined to comment further.
Allison was reported missing on July 16 but was found safe on Tuesday, sparking a mystery that sparked a public call for help and a community search.
“The dedicated efforts of our police department and collaboration with other agencies were crucial in resolving this critical situation and ensuring the safety of Allison Chao,” a statement from Monterey Park police said. “The Monterey Park Police Investigative Bureau is still investigating this incident and will have no further comment at this time. We want to assure the Monterey Park community that police remain resolute in their efforts to protect the safety and well-being of our residents, and we appreciate your continued cooperation during this investigation.”
Allison’s mother has sole legal custody of her for mental health reasons, according to her father’s family law attorney, Hannah Bui. Annie Chao was awarded interim custody starting last week, Bui said.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Jeffrey Chao thanked friends and community members who helped search for his daughter. The father’s lawyer said no foul play or kidnapping is suspected.
“We were really worried about where she was,” her father said. “We’re so grateful for all you’ve done and helped.”
Police said Allison had been missing since she was last seen around 6:20 p.m. on July 16 in the 4400 block of Corlis Avenue in the El Sereno neighborhood of Los Angeles. Police and relatives said the girl had left her father’s home in Monterey Park that afternoon, riding a blue mountain bike and wearing a black backpack to her aunt’s house in San Gabriel, but never arrived. She was seen riding her bike on multiple nearby surveillance cameras.
She was found Tuesday morning after a Glendale-area resident recognized her and called authorities.
The girl’s parents are currently in the midst of divorce proceedings and a custody battle. Her attorney, Jeffrey Chao, said Allison had been living with her father, but her mother was granted interim custody shortly before she disappeared.
Further details surrounding Allison’s disappearance remain unclear.