Alicia Navarro argued with man just one day before reappearance, neighbour says

30 July 2023 , 21:43

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Alicia Navarro, a missing teen who reappeared after almost four years, was heard arguing with a man just a day before she reappeared

The 18-year-old girl who mysteriously disappeared in 2019, had a heated altercation with an unidentified man just one day before she turned herself in at a local police station, a neighbour said.

Alicia Navarro, now 18 years old, unexpectedly walked into a small police department in Havre, Montana, almost four years after she disappeared from her Arizona home, requesting to be removed from the missing children list. She appeared unharmed.

Residents of the apartment building in Havre reported hearing Alicia and a man shouting at each other on Saturday, the day before her reappearance. A neighbor Garrett Smith, 22, shared with the New York Post: "I was here the other day and I heard them yelling. She did say, 'I will go back.' But that's all I heard. It was the day before she turned herself in."

Alicia Navarro as shown in latest picture released by police. It remains unclear how long Alicia had been residing in the Havre apartment

It remains unclear how long Alicia had been residing in the Havre apartment, but the neighbour mentioned that she and the man in his 20s had been living there for about a year.

On Wednesday, police officers swarmed the building, fueling speculation that Alicia might still be residing there. The specifics of Alicia's experiences during her three-year absence remain unclear.

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When she fled her family home at the age of 15, she left behind a note expressing her intention to return eventually. A missing person report described her as autistic but high-functioning.

Alicia disappeared in September 2019 (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

Authorities confirmed that Navarro is still considered a victim, but she insists she was not held against her will and was free to come and go as she pleased. At this time, no criminal charges are being pursued.

Since her return, Alicia has had a brief conversation with her mother, Jessica Nuñez, though it remains uncertain if she intends to return to Arizona. The family's private investigator, Trent Steel, confirmed that Alicia's future plans have not been clarified yet.

The police have said the investigation is "far from over," according to a spokesperson.

"We are only (beginning) to put together the puzzle that is her disappearance and her returning. I would only ask for patience," said Lieutenant Scott Waite, who is leading the investigation, during a press conference. "We can only imagine what she's going through as well as her family. This is probably only the beginning of where this investigation will go."

When she turned up at the police station, officers interviewed Alicia via video call, and in the footage, the girl appears distressed as they ask her questions relating to her case.

"Did anybody hurt you while you were away?" the police asked. Alicia replies, saying, "No, no one hurt me," then mumbles a bit and touches her face in agony, desperately searching for her next words.

"Our goal is we just want to make sure you are safe," an officer says. She replies: "I understand that."

Lucy Williamson