Police to treat missing teen found after four years as a 'victim'

27 July 2023 , 21:49

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Picture on the left shows her when she went missing and on the right when she turned up at the police station (Image: getty)

An Arizona teenager who mysteriously disappeared nearly four years ago is being treated as a victim, Montana officials announced.

Alicia Navarro disappearance in September 2019 began as a runaway situation. Just a few days before her 15th birthday, she left her family's home without any explanation, leaving only a handwritten note saying she ran away but would return.

Her parents were left devastated, not knowing her whereabouts for almost four years. She later turned up at a police station. The Glendale police in Arizona are treating her as a victim, and she is not facing any criminal charges or legal trouble.

According to Glendale police Lt. Scott Waite, they view Alicia as a victim and are committed to providing her with the necessary support and services. Fortunately, she did not require any immediate medical attention.

Authorities in Navarro’s hometown of Glendale, Arizona, said the teen is not facing any criminal charges

“I think for Alicia, she felt like now was the time that, whether it’s emotionally, mentally, that she wants to take the next steps in her life,” Waite said. “She’s expressed a desire to move forward in life.”

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Glendale police spokesman Jose Santiago held a news conference and confirmed that Alicia is safe, healthy, and happy based on initial assessments. He also addressed concerns raised by Alicia's mother, Jessica Nunez, who believed that her daughter, diagnosed as high-functioning on the autism spectrum, might have been lured away by someone she met online. However, Alicia informed the police that nobody had harmed her during her absence.

Alicia walked into a police station in a small town in Montana, around 1,000 miles from her Arizona home and approximately 40 miles from the Canadian border. She identified herself as the missing girl from Arizona, leading to a moment of relief for her family.

Alicia's overwhelmed mum Jennifer Nunez

Alicia Navarro as shown in latest picture released by police

As authorities continue their investigation, they are trying to piece together the events that led to Alicia's departure from home, what happened to her during her time away, and where she has been all these years.

While the reasons for Alicia's decision to come forward now remain unclear, she expressed her desire to be removed from the missing children list. Lt. Scott Waite believes that Alicia is emotionally and mentally ready to take the next steps in her life, indicating her intention to move forward.

Lucy Williamson