The father of a Monterey Park teenager who disappeared for a week before being found safe outside a Glendale television station was arrested Friday on suspicion of child abduction and other crimes, authorities announced.
Jeffrey Chao, the father of 15-year-old Alison Chao, was arrested on suspicion of child kidnapping, conspiracy and falsifying a police report, according to a news release from the Monterey Park Police Department.
“The Department’s dedicated efforts and collaboration with other agencies were instrumental in resolving this critical situation and ensuring the safety of Alison Chao,” the statement said.
The department is still investigating the case and declined to provide further details.
A Glendale woman who declined to give her name for privacy reasons told The Times on Tuesday that she saw a girl who looked like Alison sneak into the KABC offices in Glendale. The woman alerted a security guard, who took the girl outside.
The Glendale woman said Alison told her she had run away from home and did not want to return to her mother. Alison told her she was going to KABC to tell her side of the story.
Jose Romero, the attorney hired by Jeffrey Chao, said during a news conference Tuesday that Alison was not kidnapped and there was no indication of foul play.
Romero declined to comment Tuesday on a video that Alison reportedly filmed the day before she disappeared. 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 did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Annie Chao, Alison's mother, said in a statement Friday that she separated from Jeffrey Chao on March 10, 2023, and initially requested joint custody of Alison.
“I want the public to know that my family and I are good, decent people, and worthy of their 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 have no full knowledge of my relationship with Alison or Jeff or our family life prior to me filing for divorce.”
According to a child custody petition filed in February in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Annie Chao accused Jeffrey Chao of falsely accusing Alison of physically and sexually abusing her and her father. In court documents, 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 charges were filed.
“I have dedicated myself to learning about domestic violence and alienating behaviors to understand the impact this has on Alison and me,” Annie Chao wrote.
Following her parents' separation, Alison initially lived with her father, according to court records. After Annie Chao filed for divorce in April 2023, she requested joint custody, but has since asked that she be given sole physical and legal custody and that Jeffrey have supervised visitation.
Annie Chao now has “sole physical custody” of Alison, Emily Robinson, Alison’s court-appointed attorney, said in an emailed statement to The Times.
According to Annie Chao's filing, Jeffrey Chao did not make any allegations of abuse until after their separation. After Annie Chao filed for divorce, she claimed, he attempted to reconcile with her through outside mediators and by sending her gifts.
Alison Chao went missing after last being seen in the 200 block of North Ynez Avenue in Monterey Park at 5:32 p.m. on July 16. Monterey Park police launched a missing person investigation at 9:36 p.m. that night, according to a department news release.
The teen was riding a blue mountain bike on her way to her aunt's house in nearby San Gabriel, her family told KTLA.
The trip was supposed to take about 20 minutes, but Jeffrey Chao's aunt called him around 8 p.m. to let him know that his daughter had not yet arrived.
