Featured Image Credit: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Topics: US News, Parenting, Social media
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: US News, Parenting, Social media
Authorities have revealed an Arizona girl has been located after being missing for nearly four years.
On 15 September 2019, Alicia Navarro went missing from her home in Glendale, Arizona, at the age of 14.
According to KTAR News, Navarro left a note for her parents telling them she had run away but swearing she would 'be back'.
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However, it wasn't until this week that her mum heard from her again.
At a press conference, Glendale public safety communications manager Jose Santiago confirmed Navarro is no longer considered a missing person.
He said: "Alicia Navarro has been located. She is by all accounts, safe, she is by all accounts healthy and she is by all accounts happy."
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The 18-year-old walked into a police station in Montana and requested to be taken off the missing children list. She is reported as having been on her own.
According to Navarro's missing person's report, the teenager was suspected of possibly having travelled to California, but ultimately turned up near the Canadian border in Montana.
Wherever Navarro ended up, her family are just overjoyed to have her safely returned home. The 18-year-old's mum, Jessica Nuñez, has since taken to Facebook to share her relief.
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In the video, the mother says: "I do feel I owe this video to the community and to God. First of all I want to give glory to God for answering your prayers and for this miracle.
"For everyone who has missing loved ones, I want you to use this case as an example that miracles do exist, never lose hope and always fight."
At the time of the video, Nuñez said she didn't know 'the details' of her daughter's four years away from home but can confirm the girl who went to the police station is definitely her daughter and 'is alive' and 'is safe'.
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"This is recent news for me. It was an hour before it was posted on social media and the news," she continues. "I don't have details but the important thing is we know she's alive and I want to thank the community and God for all that you've done."
A police investigation into the last four years of Navarro's disappearance continues, however Navarro said in a video call 'nobody hurt [her]'.
The 18-year-old has asked for privacy as she cooperates with the investigation.
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Glendale Police Detective Leutenant Scott Waite concludes: "We can only imagine what she’s going through, mentally, emotionally, as well as her family, and as much as we’d like to say this is the end, this is probably only the beginning of where this investigation will go."