15-Year-Old Alison Chao Found Safe, but Her Father is Arrested on Suspicion of Child Abduction

Monterey Park, California United States of America
15-year-old Alison Jillian Chao went missing from Monterey Park, California on July 16, 2024.
Alison was found safe outside the offices of KABC-TV in Glendale on July 23.
Jeffrey Chao, Alison's father, held a news conference expressing concern for her well-being on July 23.
Jeffrey Chao was arrested on suspicion of child abduction, conspiracy, and falsifying a police report on July 27.
15-Year-Old Alison Chao Found Safe, but Her Father is Arrested on Suspicion of Child Abduction

A 15-year-old girl named Alison Jillian Chao went missing from Monterey Park, California on July 16, 2024. She was last seen leaving her father's house and heading towards her aunt's house in San Gabriel. The extensive search for Alison led to several developments over the next few days.

On July 23, Alison was found safe outside the offices of KABC-TV in Glendale. A woman named Rachelle recognized her from a missing person flyer and contacted authorities after noticing her wandering around the area. Alison reportedly told Rachelle that she had run away from home and wanted to tell her story to the public.

The same day, Jeffrey Chao, Alison's father, held a news conference where he thanked friends and the community for their help in finding his daughter. He also expressed concern for her well-being and appreciated everyone's efforts.

However, on July 27, Monterey Park Police Department announced that Jeffrey Chao had been arrested on suspicion of child abduction, conspiracy, and falsifying a police report. The department did not provide further details about the allegations against him.

Alison's mother, Annie Chao, released a statement expressing her love for her daughter and commitment to protecting her interests. She also asked people not to speculate or attack anyone in the process of finding Alison.

The complex situation surrounding Alison's disappearance and subsequent reappearance has raised questions about the circumstances leading up to both events. The investigation is ongoing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.



Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • What evidence does the Monterey Park Police Department have against Jeffrey Chao?
  • What were the circumstances leading to Alison's disappearance?
  • Why did Alison run away from home and go to KABC-TV?

Sources

100%

  • Unique Points
    • Jeffrey Chao thanked friends and the community for helping to find his daughter during a news conference on Tuesday
    • Alison went missing for about a week in Southern California
    • Jeffrey Chao is being held without bail, according to his attorney Jose Romero who declined further comment
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

  • Unique Points
    • Jeffrey Chao was arrested on suspicion of child abduction, conspiracy, and falsifying a police report.
    • Alison Chao was found safe outside a Glendale TV station after a week of being missing.
    • A Glendale woman saw a girl who resembled Alison slipping into KABC’s offices in Glendale and alerted authorities.
    • Alison told the woman she had run away from home and was on her way to KABC to tell her side of the story.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains a few instances of appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It also uses a dichotomous depiction in describing Alison's situation. No explicit logical fallacies were found in the author's original assertions.
    • . . .accused Jeffrey Chao of falsely accusing that she and her father had physically and sexually abused Alison.
    • Annie Chao accused Jeffrey Chao of falsely accusing that she and her father had physically and sexually abused Alison.
    • Jose Romero, the attorney retained by Jeffrey Chao, said during a news conference Tuesday that Alison wasn’t kidnapped and that there wasn’t any indication of foul play.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

  • Unique Points
    • Rachelle, a stranger, recognized Alison from a missing person flyer and contacted the police
    • Alison felt deeply unheard and wanted to tell her story to the public
    • Annie Chao, Alison’s mother, released a statement expressing love for her daughter and commitment to protecting her interests
  • Accuracy
    • 15-year-old Alison Jillian Chao was found safe outside ABC7’s office in Glendale
    • Alison went missing for about a week in Southern California
    • Alison was articulate and clear during their encounter
    • Jeffrey Chao, father of a 15-year-old girl named Alison Jillian Chao, was arrested on suspicion of child abduction and falsifying a police report
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority and a potential false dilemma. The appeal to authority is present when the attorney's statement is quoted, saying that the judge has made determinations that are solely in Alison's best interest. This implies that the judge's decision should be trusted without questioning. The potential false dilemma comes from Jeffrey Chao's sister stating her belief that Alison ran away because she did not want to be with her mother, presenting a binary choice between believing Alison or her mother when there may be other factors at play.
    • The attorney's statement: “...the judge has made determinations that are solely in Alison’s best interest, including awarding Alison’s mother, Annie Chao, sole decision making authority regarding Alison’s mental health and sole physical custody of her.”
    • Jeffrey Chao's sister: “I believe Alison ran away because she did not want to be with her mother.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • Alison Chao's father was arrested for possible charges of child abduction and falsifying a police report.
    • Alison Chao was found safe outside the gate of the local ABC affiliate in Glendale.
  • Accuracy
    • ]Alison Chao was found safe on Tuesday[
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

  • Unique Points
    • Missing Monterey Park teen Alison Jillian Chao was found safe at a TV station's Glendale offices.
    • Alison had left home on her bicycle ‘on her own accord’ on July 16.
    • Alison's father, Jeffrey Chao, described her as ‘a very intelligent person’ and ‘a godly person with a really good heart.’
    • Monterey Park Police Department was interviewing Alison and continuing to investigate the case.
    • Alison had reportedly left her home at 5:32 p.m. on July 16, en route to her aunt’s house in nearby San Gabriel.
    • Alison's mother, Annie Chao, had released a statement on Instagram asking for help in finding her daughter and requesting people not to speculate or attack anyone in the process.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication