Update on Missing Allison Chao as Mother Releases Statement

The mother of missing teenager Annie Chao has released a statement as police intensify their search for the missing California girl.

Monterey Park Police Department is appealing to the public for information and her mother has now shared her concern and thanked those who have tried to help in the search for their “unwavering support”.

Chao’s mother also hit out at “misinformation, attacks, and threats of violence” on social media.

She released her statement to the public via an Instagram account dedicated to finding the missing child.

Monterey Park police launched a missing person investigation on July 16 at approximately 9:30p.m. for Chao.

Newsweek has reached out to the Monterey Park Police Department via email for comment.

The Context

Chao is described as an Asian female, standing around 5 feet, 2 inches tall, and weighing 96 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

She left her residence around 5:30 p.m. in the 200 block of North Ynez Avenue in Monterey Park. Video footage captured her about an hour later on the 4400 block of Collis Avenue in Los Angeles, in the El Sereno area.

She was last seen wearing a purple T-shirt, black shorts, and dark shoes. She was headed to a family member’s home in San Gabriel but never arrived. She was riding a blue mountain bike and carrying a black bookbag.

Detectives from the Monterey Park Police Department, in collaboration with local, county, state, and federal agencies, have been relentlessly investigating the case since Chao’s disappearance. They are working closely with the Chao family and the local community, reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of uncovering vital information.

What We Know

A dedicated website, alisonchao.com, has been launched to aid in the search efforts. The site offers regular updates and includes a form for individuals to report any sightings of Chao, detailing the date, time, location, and any additional information or screenshots. Additionally, an “urgent” section on the website features a map, urging residents to review their camera system recordings in the highlighted areas.

“Thank you to the community for your unwavering support and assistance in our efforts to find Alison,” the website reads. “We are still searching. We will and have been continuing to provide all information we receive to the police to aid their efforts.”

There is also an Instagram page, @helpfindalison, with ample updates and photos of Chao.

“With all our hearts, we extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible community,” an Instagram read. “Your unwavering support and willingness to volunteer in the search party means the world to us.”

In a statement released on July 22, Alison’s mother, Annie Chao, thanked the community for their ongoing support and efforts in the search.

“Thank you again to the community for your ongoing support in the efforts to find Alison. I would like to especially thank the person who posted the photo on Saturday of Alison riding her bike past their house, which launched the biggest lead and gained the fastest momentum in tracking Alison’s location we’ve had since she went missing,” she said.

Annie Chao also addressed social media speculation and misinformation surrounding her daughter’s disappearance.

“I have become aware of misinformation, attacks, and threats of violence that have been posted on social media against me, my family, and even those who are only trying to help in the search for Alison. I have even seen some postings that refer to there being a ‘mom side’ and a ‘dad side’ in the search for Alison. There should not be any ‘sides’ in the search for Alison,” she said.

She appealed for the community’s continued help in searching for video footage and sending any information to the Monterey Park Police Department. “We ask the public to please continue to search for video footage and send the footage you may have to the Monterey Park Police Department. Since the police did not have an inbox to receive this information initially, we created the alisonchao.com website to gather information to send to them,” Annie Chao said in the statement.

What’s Next

The search for Alison Chao remains a top priority for the Monterey Park Police Department. Anyone who may have spotted Chao or knows her whereabouts is urged to contact the department at 626-573-1311.

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