27 July 2023 , 08:36
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A teenage girl who had been missing for four years appeared in distress as she spoke to investigators in a video call.
Alicia Navarro reappeared nearly four years after she was reported missing in September 2019 from her home in a small town in Arizona.
This week, she walked alone into the police station of a small town about 40 miles (64 kilometres) from the Canadian border in Montana and identified herself.
Police released a clip showing Alicia speaking on a video call with investigators. The young girl appears in distress as police ask her questions to determine her condition.
Asked about whether someone has hurt her, she replies 'No', and then she mumbles and touches her face in agony trying to find her words.
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Alicia appears distressed as she struggles to find the words to speak to investigators"Thank you for offering help to me," the girl says, appearing in agony towards the end of the video.
Alicia's disappearance in 2019 sparked a massive search that included the FBI.
Jose Santiago, media manager at the Glendale Police Department, said that, over the years, police had received thousands of tips.
Her mother, Jessica Nunez, raised concerns that Alicia, who was diagnosed as high-functioning on the autism spectrum, may have been lured away by someone she met online.
A photo of Alicia issued by police after she arrived at the station in Montana
Detectives are trying to piece together her movements over the last four years (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)The name of the town wasn't immediately disclosed but Montana is more than 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometres) from Arizona.
“She is by all accounts safe, she is by all accounts healthy, and she is by all accounts happy,” police spokesman Jose Santiago said at a news conference.
Investigators were trying to determine what happened to Alicia after her disappearance at age 14 on September 15, 2019.
Alice talks to policePolice said Alicia told them that she hadn't been harmed.
Police said she wasn't being held and could come and go as she pleased. She does not face any criminal charges, they added.
“She is not in any kind of trouble,” Mr Santiago said.
Mum appeared 'completely normal' moments before vanishing while walking dog
When she disappeared from her home, Alicia left a signed note that read: “I ran away. I will be back, I swear. I’m sorry.”
Lieutenant Scott Waite says criminal charges may follow the investigation into the missing girlLieutenant Scott Waite, from the Glendale police department, said that Alicia had an “emotionally overwhelming” reunion with her mother and was “very apologetic (as) to what she has put her mother through.”
He told a media conference: "We are only (beginning) to put together the puzzle that is her disappearance and her returning. I would only ask for patience.
"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."
Alicia has turned up after four years missingLieutenant Waite vowed that Alicia will get "everything she needs". He also told reporters the case began as a "runaway situation".
The officer added: "We don't know if she's been with anyone while she was missing. We can tell you that when she showed up to the police station she was by herself."
Jessica confirmed that her daughter had been found but said she had no details.
Alicia before she vanished
Alicia's mum posted an emotional video“I want to give glory to God for answering prayers and for this miracle,” she said in a Facebook post.
“For everyone who has missing loved ones, I want you to use this case as an example,” she said. “Miracles do exist. Never lose hope and always fight.”
Police spokesman Santiago said: “There’s a lot of mixed emotions with this particular announcement that we are having. We are happy and at the same time, we are hopeful that we will be able to supply this family with a little more closure.
“For more than four years detectives here have followed up on thousands of leads. This case is far from being closed. We are continuing to investigate her whereabouts for the last four years and will do so alongside our federal partners.
"Alicia is asking for her privacy at this time. We are thankful we can bring some type of closure to her family. We are also thankful she appears to be in good health and happy.”