A missing California teenager appeared before a local news station a week after her disappearance, begging her to share her story.
Alison Jillian Chao, 15, disappeared on July 16 after biking the four miles from her father’s home in Monterey Park to her aunt’s house in San Gabriel.
The student with only good grades was spotted last Tuesday when he headed towards the ABC7 Glendale television studio by a woman, Rachelle, who recognized her from the missing poster.
Rachelle said the teen was desperately trying to talk to someone and she made a heartbreaking statement.
“She was very clear about, ‘I came to ABC to tell my story. No one else is going to listen to me,’” Rachelle told the local news channel.
Missing teenager Alison Jillian Chao (center) was found outside a local news station a week after her disappearance, begging for her story to be shared
Chao, 15, disappeared on July 16 while biking four miles from her father’s home in Monterey Park to her aunt’s house in San Gabriel
‘What struck me right away was how confident she was. Sound in mind. Very articulate, very clear about what the situation was.
“She was crying. She was very upset. Especially because she couldn’t tell her story.”
Alison was last seen on surveillance footage in a chilling photo of her on her GT mountain bike, wearing a purple t-shirt with black shorts and dark shoes. She was also carrying a backpack.
Rachelle followed the teen to ABC7 studios where they were met by police. Footage from outside the studio shows Alison in an outfit similar to the one she was last seen in.
“All I can tell you is that this is someone who is three years away from adulthood and feels like she is not being listened to at all and that there is no way for her to be brought to justice,” Rachelle said.
The woman who found her, Rachelle (pictured), said the teen was desperately trying to talk to someone, saying: ‘No one else will listen to me’
The teenager was last seen in a graphic photo of herself riding her GT mountain bike, wearing a purple T-shirt with black shorts and dark shoes
“I hope her family comes together, that they can resolve this for her and that the court does not abandon her.”
Alison is now in the custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Families.
The teens’ parents, Annie and Jeffery Chao, are going through a divorce, and Jeffery’s attorneys said the girl’s mother was granted temporary physical custody of her last week.
Alison’s aunt says she thinks the high school girl ran away because she didn’t want to be with her mother.
“Alison is a young girl and her feelings about my separation from her father are understandably complicated, but she has a family (both my side and her father’s side) who love and adore her,” Annie said.
Alison’s aunt said she believes the high school student ran away because she didn’t want to be with her mother, who was awarded custody of her during her parents’ divorce.
“I will always do my best to protect Alison’s interests, regardless of the circumstances and regardless of the stones thrown at me.”
The family does not know where Alison was the week she went missing.
Jeffery thanked the people who helped find her, saying: ‘We were very concerned about where she was and we appreciate what everyone has done.’
According to Emily Robinson, Alison’s court-appointed attorney, the judge’s ruling is in Alison’s best interests.
“Based on my advocacy on behalf of Alison, in consultation with her medical professionals, along with the evidence presented to the court, including testimony from both parents, the judge has made decisions that are solely in the best interests of Alison. For example, the judge has granted Alison’s mother, Annie Chao, sole decision-making authority regarding Alison’s mental health and sole physical custody of her.”
