U.S. News

‘Miracle’ Teen Alicia Navarro Found Safe After 4 Years Missing

By Mara Lafontaine · July 27, 2023

Alicia Navarro, the Arizona teenager who disappeared in 2019, has been found. Last been seen at her home in Glendale, Arizona, in September 2019, days before her 15th birthday, Navarro appeared this week, on her own accord, at a police station in a tiny Montana town.

The surprise announcement was made at a press conference Wednesday, as Glendale Police Spokesperson Jose Miguel Santiago and Lt. Scott Waite shared details of Alicia’s reappearance.

“Alicia Navarro has been located,” Santiago declared. “She is, by all accounts, safe. She is, by all accounts, healthy. And she is, by all accounts, happy. She was located in a very small town in Montana near the Canadian border. We can tell you that she went to a local police department in that area. She identified herself as Alicia Navarro.”

The 18-year-old visited the Montana police station to have her name removed from the missing juvenile list.

“She showed up to the police department,” Santiago continued. “She identified herself as Alicia Navarro. And she basically asked for help to clear her off of a missing juvenile list. She, by all accounts, went on her own free will. She is not in any kind of trouble. She’s not facing any kind of charges. She is not being held anywhere. She is coming and going of her own free will. And she has been extremely cooperative with not only our folks, but our federal partners as well.”

At the time of her disappearance, she was 14 years old. She left behind a note that said, “I ran away. I will be back. I swear. I’m sorry. Alicia”

Many unanswered questions remain regarding Navarro, including how she ended up in Montana, whether she had been in the company of others during her years of absence, and whether criminal activity was involved.

“Right now, we don’t know if she’s been with anyone for the length of time that she’s been missing,” said Santiago. “We’re still investigating that actively. We can tell you that when she showed up to the police department, she was by herself. She’s been by herself each time and she’s been cooperative.”

Regarding the possibility of criminality, Lt. Waite said, “This started as a runaway situation. She indicated as much. But there are, of course, more dynamics at play as you start to put together the puzzle. I would say that all options are on the table. And we want to not discount anything until we’ve done a full and complete investigation… But I can’t say that there’s anything imminent or pending at this time.”

Santiago added, “She just appears to be in good spirits. She really just wants to move on with her life. She is very apologetic to what she has put her mother through, has expressed that. She understands that she caused a lot of pain to her mother, and it was not intentional… She’s hopeful that they can have a relationship.”

Navarro has yet to reunite with her mother, according to press reports.