Calif. Teen Disappears While Riding Bike to Visit Family: ‘I Haven't Slept in Days,' Says Mom

Abigail Adams
·2 min read
2

As more time passes, the teen's mom said she's "afraid the public will lose interest, and it will be harder to find her"

<p>Monterey Park Police Dept.</p> Allison Jillian Chao

Monterey Park Police Dept.

Allison Jillian Chao

Authorities in California are looking for a 15-year-old girl who disappeared while riding her bike to visit family nearly a week ago.

"Alison left her residence on July 16, 2024, at approximately 5:32 p.m. in the 200 block of North Ynez Avenue in the City of Monterey Park, Calif," according to a news release from the City of Monterey Park. "Video footage shows Alison’s last known whereabouts on July 16 at 6:23 p.m. on the 4400 block of Collis Avenue, Los Angeles, in the El Sereno area."

Alison “was riding a blue mountain bike and carrying a black backpack” when she left her home in the 200 block of North Ynez Avenue in Monterey Park around 5:30 p.m.

City officials said Alison “was en route to a family member’s residence in the City of San Gabriel, Calif.,” but apparently “never arrived at the residence.”

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“I haven’t slept in days, and it’s just every parent’s worst nightmare,” Allison’s mother, Annie, told CW affiliate KTLA.

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“The more time that goes on, the scarier it gets,” Annie said. “I’m afraid the public will lose interest, and it will be harder to find her. There’s less evidence.”

Chao is described as being 5-foot-2 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes and “weighing approximately 96 lbs.”

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The teen was last seen wearing a purple T-shirt, black shorts and dark-colored shoes, according to city officials.

Authorities are now working with Chao’s family to find the missing teen while “canvassing neighborhoods in the area, reviewing surveillance video footage, and interviewing possible witnesses” in hopes of finding her.

Officials said “there is no threat to public safety” in connection with Chao’s disappearance.

Anyone with information about the missing teen is asked to contact the MPPD at 626-573-1311. A website dedicated to finding Chao has also been set up.

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