Alicia Navarro found safe after missing for nearly 4 years, Glendale police say

GLENDALE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Alicia Navarro, who went missing from her Glendale home nearly four years ago, has been found in Montana and is said to be safe, police announced Wednesday afternoon. “Alicia Navarro has been located. She is by all accounts, safe. She is by all accounts healthy, and she is by all accounts happy,” said Jose Miguel Santiago with the Glendale Police Department.

Santiago says Navarro was located in a very small town in Montana about 35 miles south of the Canadian border. On Thursday, police in Havre, Montana confirmed that Navarro walked into their police station at approximately 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 23, to report that she was missing and that she wanted to clear her status. Officers determined that she had been reported missing in 2019 and contacted Glendale police.

Navarro’s mother, Jessica Nunez, took to Facebook for her reaction and said how happy she was she was found. “I, first of all, want to give glory to God for answering my prayers and for this miracle,” she said. “For everyone who has missing loved ones, I want you to use this case as an example that miracles do exist and never lose hope and always fight.” Nunez said she found out about Navarro being found about an hour before the Glendale police news conference. “I don’t have details but the important thing is that she is alive,” she said. “I want to thank the community and God for all that you have done.”

In the early morning hours of September 15, 2019, then-14-year-old Navarro wrote a note for her parents while they slept and left home. At the time, she was described as a high-functioning autistic teen and had not been heard from until this week. Police say that Navarro, now 18, walked into the Montana police station alone.

Glendale police say they immediately responded to the small Montana town and are investigating the developments in this case with the help of the U.S. Marshal’s Office and the FBI. Investigators are confident that the young lady is indeed Navarro. “I would ask patience, not only for us as law enforcement in this investigation, but patience for Alicia and for her family,” said Glendale PD Lt. Scott Waite. “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.”

Investigators have not said if she was staying with anyone. Police stress that Navarro is not in any kind of trouble and has been extremely cooperative. She also relayed a message through police, asking for privacy for herself and her family.

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