‘Overwhelmed’ Teen Lacking Since 2019 Walks Into Police Station

Glendale Police Division

A teen who went lacking in 2019 turned up in a small Montana city close to the Canadian border after strolling into an area police division and figuring out herself.

Alicia Navarro, who has autism, was simply 14 when she disappeared in September 2019, forsaking a notice saying she could be again. Her birthday was only a couple days after her disappearance. On the time, her mom, Jessica Nunez, suspected her daughter had been lured away by a predator on-line.

However Glendale police spokesperson Jose Santiago stated in a press convention Wednesday that the now 18-year-old Navarro was “wholesome and joyful” for the reason that discovery—regardless of being a little bit “overwhelmed.”

It’s unclear precisely when Navarro walked into the police station—with police merely stating that it was “earlier this week” and that she was alone. She confirmed up, recognized herself and requested for assist to clear her title from a lacking juvenile checklist, Santiago stated, including she is just not in any hassle. Police stated they won’t launch any additional info regarding the “very small city” about 40 miles from the Canadian border.

As quickly as Navarro recognized herself, police say they carried out interviews with Navarro and her household, and “are assured that the person who we’re speaking with and coping with is certainly Alicia Navarro.”

She didn’t want medical consideration on the time of her discovery, or since she has been talking with police.

“There’s loads of blended feelings with this specific announcement that we’re having. We’re joyful and on the similar time we’re hopeful that we can provide this household with a little bit extra closure,” Santiago stated.

There’s nonetheless loads of questions, he provides, whereas revealing Navarro has been by means of a “traumatic scenario” and has requested for privateness. “She is wanting to have the ability to transfer on in her life, she’s seeking to construct a life for herself,” Santiago stated.

“She’s overwhelmed,” he added, saying Navarro “could be very educated” concerning the consideration surrounding the case however that her precedence was to “discuss to her mother and ensure her mom knew that she was OK. “We’re taking it day-to-day, step-by-step together with her.”

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Glendale Police Lieutenant Scott Waite stated police have been uncertain why she reappeared now, however famous “she felt like now was the time, whether or not it’s emotionally, mentally, that she desires to take the following steps in her life…to do the issues {that a} regular, wholesome grownup would do. I can’t say there’s any single triggering second, I believe there’s most likely been a protracted development for her within the journey she’s taken.”

It stays unclear the place she was for the previous a number of years.

Police launched a photograph, obtained by The Each day Beast, of Navarro on the day she arrived on the police station. “I’ll inform you, to be direct, she doesn’t look a lot completely different than she did when she disappeared…her look is that of a really younger wanting woman,” Santiago stated.

A present photograph of Alicia Navarro.

Glendale Police Division

Police stated each indication is that Navarro wilfully left her residence in 2019, however the ”dynamics surrounding that call” is being investigated.

It’s unclear if Navarro had been with anybody in the course of the years that she was lacking. She has been cooperative, police stated, including it began as a runaway scenario nevertheless it grew to become “extra dynamic” as investigators labored on the case.

Additionally it is unclear how Navarro received to Montana. No expenses have been laid within the case however police added it was a chance. Navarro went to the police station at her personal free will and isn’t going through any expenses. “She is coming and going at her personal free will and has been extraordinarily cooperative,” Santiago stated.

In a brief video despatched by the Glendale Police Division to The Each day Beast, Navarro will be seen being questioned by investigators through video name.

An investigator asks: “Did anyone harm you in any method?”

“No, nobody harm me,” she solutions.

Navarro seems to be in good spirits, police claimed, including that she “actually desires to maneuver on together with her life,” and is “very apologetic to her mom and understands she brought on loads of ache.”

The teenager stays hopeful that they’ll rebuild their relationship.

“For greater than 4 years detectives right here have adopted up on THOUSANDS of leads,” Santiago stated in an announcement to The Each day Beast.

“This case is much from being closed. We’re persevering with to analyze her whereabouts for the final 4 years and can achieve this alongside our Federal companions. Alicia is asking for her privateness at the moment. We’re grateful we will carry some sort of closure to her household. We’re additionally grateful she seems to be in good well being and joyful.”

Police stated Alicia has been reunited together with her household as police “start to place collectively the puzzle which is her disappearance and returning.” Waite requested the general public for endurance from Navarro and her household.

“We are able to solely think about what she’s going by means of, mentally and emotionally, in addition to her household. As a lot as we’d prefer to say that is the tip, that is most likely solely the start of the place this investigation will go.”

Glendale Police Division

In a video message an hour after discovering out, her mom, Jessica, informed the general public it was a “miracle” and despatched a message to different households with lacking family members. “I would like you to make use of this case for example, that miracles do exist,” she says, including that she was unaware of the small print surrounding her daughter’s discovery. “That is current information for me, I don’t have particulars however the vital factor is she is alive…by no means lose hope and at all times combat,” she stated.

Police wouldn’t go into particulars of the reunion between the pair, besides that it was “emotionally overwhelming” for each of them.

Santiago stated Navarro was “very apologetic to what she has put her mom by means of,” that it was “not intentional” on her behalf and that understands she brought on loads of ache to her mom.

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