The father of a missing Californian teenager who turned up outside a TV station to ‘tell her story’ has been charged with ‘child stealing’.
Alison Chao, 15, vanished while traveling from her dad’s home to her aunt’s house on July 16.
Her disappearance sparked a missing persons case, which was only called off after she was found outside Glendale TV station a week later.
Now police have revealed her father Jeffery Chao, 40, has been charged with one count of felony child stealing/concealment and one misdemeanor count of false report of an emergency.
He was arrested on Friday. An additional charge of conspiracy has since been dropped.
The father of a missing Californian teenager Alison Chao, 15, who turned up outside a TV station to ‘tell her story’ has been charged with ‘child stealing’
‘Falsely reporting a child as missing not only violates the law but also diverts critical law enforcement resources away from other serious matters,’ Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said.
‘This type of behavior will not be tolerated, and we will hold the responsible individual accountable for his actions.’
Police said Chao stole/concealed his daughter and then made a fake report to the emergency services.
Investigators claim that he persuaded others, including a minor to go along with the alleged deception.
If convicted as charged, Chao faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.
The report sparked a city-wide search for the missing teen with volunteers looking through local neighborhoods, handing out missing person flyers and family members making media appearances.
Her mother Annie Chao went on TV making a tearful plea for her daughter’s safe return.
Alison was last seen on surveillance footage in a photo of her riding her GT mountain bike wearing a purple t-shirt with black shorts and dark shoes. She was also carrying a backpack.
Jeffrey Chao, 40, has been charged with one count of felony child stealing/concealment and one misdemeanor count of false report of an emergency
Missing teen Alison Chao (center) was found outside a local news station in Glendale begging to share her story one week after she disappeared
In a surprise twist, she turned up safe and well on Tuesday a full week after her disappearance outside the gates of the local ABC television station wanting to ‘tell her story’.
But now questions remain over exactly what happened during the week Alison was missing.
The teen’s parents are divorced which has fueled speculation that perhaps Alison’s vanishing was a result of a custody dispute.
Her mother was awarded ‘sole physical custody’ over Alison, in the interest of her mental health and well-being.
Video has also emerged the day before Alison was reported missing showing police at Chao’s home, urging the teen to come with them.
A female voice can be heard in the background sounding distraught and refusing.
After Alison was found safe, her mother responded to social media posts speculating as to what might have happened.
Annie Chao said the posts were full of ‘uninformed opinions, speculation, and hurtful comments about me and my family.’
Alison’s mother, Annie Chao, pictured amid a tearful plea for her safe return, was awarded ‘sole physical custody’ over Alison, in the interest of her mental health and well-being
It is still unknown where the teen went for a week during her disappearance
‘There is a great deal of misinformation that has been posted online regarding Alison and my family by a small number of people,’ Annie Chao said.
‘If you wish to help Alison, you will stop posting about this matter,’ she continued explaining how her daughter was a ‘young girl,’ with feelings about her parents’ divorce ‘understandably complicated.’
‘I will always do my best to protect Alison’s interests, no matter the circumstances and regardless of the stones that may be thrown at me,’ her mother said.
The family does not know where Alison spent the week she was missing.
