A California teenager made a dramatic appearance outside a local news station, eager to tell her story just one week after going missing.
Alison Jillian Chao, a 15-year-old student with straight A’s, was last seen on July 16 when she left her father’s house in Monterey Park, intending to bike the short distance to her aunt’s home in San Gabriel.
This past Tuesday, a woman named Rachelle spotted Alison approaching the ABC7 TV studio in Glendale.
Recognizing her from a missing persons poster, Rachelle noticed that Alison seemed desperate to share her story.
Rachelle described the encounter, noting Alison’s urgency and distress. “She kept saying, ‘I’ve come to ABC to tell my story. No one else will listen to me,’” Rachelle recounted.
“She was so composed and articulate about her situation, though she was clearly very upset and crying about not being able to get her story out.”
The last known image of Alison, captured by surveillance cameras, showed her riding her GT mountain bike, dressed in a purple t-shirt, black shorts, and dark shoes, with a backpack in tow.
Rachelle followed Alison to the ABC7 studios, where police were waiting. The footage from outside the studio shows Alison in similar clothing to what she wore in the last known photo.
Family and Legal Matters
Alison is now in the care of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Her parents, Annie and Jeffery Chao, are in the midst of a divorce. According to Jeffery’s attorneys, Annie was temporarily granted physical custody of Alison last week.
Annie believes that Alison may have run away due to her complicated feelings about the divorce. “Alison is a young girl with complex feelings about our separation,” Annie said.
“But she has family on both sides who love her dearly. I am committed to protecting her interests regardless of the challenges.”
Uncertain Week
The family is still unsure about Alison’s whereabouts during the week she was missing.
Jeffery expressed gratitude towards those who helped locate her, saying, “We were very worried about her and truly appreciate everyone’s efforts.”
Legal Decisions
Alison’s court-appointed attorney, Emily Robinson, assured that the court’s decision was made with Alison’s best interests in mind.
“After consulting with medical professionals and considering testimony from both parents, the judge determined that awarding Alison’s mother, Annie Chao, sole decision-making authority regarding Alison’s mental health and physical custody was in Alison’s best interest,” Robinson stated.
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