Missing Arizona girl Alicia Navarro was found safe after almost four years, walking into the Havre Police Department in Montana. A man has been taken into custody in connection with the case.
"We can only imagine what she's going through mentally and emotionally, as well as her family," Scott Wade, of the Glendale Police Department, said. "As much as we'd like to say this is the end, we know this is probably only the beginning of where this investigation will go."
After nearly four years of uncertainty, the missing Arizona girl Alicia Navarro has been found safe in Havre, Montana. The Havre Police Department confirmed that she walked into their station on July 23 around 11 a.m. to "clear her status" as a missing person, and authorities were able to verify her identity.
The discovery brought immeasurable relief to Alicia Navarro's family, who had been relentlessly searching for her since her vanishing in 2019. Expressing her gratitude on the "Finding Alicia" Facebook page, Navarro's mother attributed the reunion as a miraculous answer to prayers.
"We can only imagine what she's going through mentally and emotionally, as well as her family. As much as we'd like to say this is the end, we know this is probably only the beginning of where this investigation will go," Wade said. Expressing the sentiment shared by many after Alicia's discovery.
The Havre Police Department, along with their state, local, and federal partners, have been cooperating extensively to ensure that Alicia receives all the support she needs during this critical time. Wade emphasized that their priority is to take care of Alicia and her family and to thoroughly and correctly complete the investigation.
"We will continue to work with our state, local, federal partners and even across state lines to make sure that Alicia has everything that she needs, that she's taken care of. That her family is getting the help that they need. And most importantly, that this investigation is completed thoroughly and done correctly," Wade asserted.
A press release circulated via the Havre Police Department's Facebook page revealed that Alicia appeared to be in good health when she arrived at the station. The exact details of her whereabouts during the time she was missing are yet to be disclosed, but authorities are conducting interviews and gathering evidence to piece together the events leading up to her discovery.
"We are so glad for Alicia and her family so that they can be reunited, and the family can no longer have the anguish of not knowing where their child is or whether or not she is ok," the Havre Police Department said in a statement.
In a related development, the Havre police, with assistance from other law enforcement agencies, took a man into custody on Wednesday night. The arrest took place at an apartment just a few blocks away from the Havre police station. Witnesses reported that as many as ten heavily-armed uniformed and undercover officers were involved in the operation. According to several witnesses interviewed by The Associated Press, there was no indication that anyone other than the arrested man lived in the apartment. Authorities are yet to release further details about the individual's identity and his potential connection to Alicia Navarro's disappearance.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with information related to this case to come forward and assist in the pursuit of justice for Alicia Navarro and her family.
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