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Two years later: community still searches for Alicia Navarro

Posted at 9:43 AM, Sep 15, 2021
and last updated 2023-07-26 18:30:18-04

GLENDALE, AZ — *UPDATE: Glendale police announced on July 26, 2023, that Alicia Navarro has been located and is safe. Click here for the latest on this story.*

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Wednesday marks two years since Alicia Navarro went missing.

The Glendale teen with autism was 14 at the time when her family says she left her home and never returned.

Alicia's mom Jessica Nunez says her daughter left behind a note saying she would be back. Nunez says she believes her daughter was lured by an online predator.

A private investigator is now working on the case, alongside the nonprofit Project 25. Project 25 works to help find missing children who are believed to be victims of sex trafficking.

Kathleen Winn is the executive director of Project 25. She says her organization is taking a second look at the case and using special technology to dive deeper into who Alicia was connecting with before she disappeared

"We're hopeful that taking a second look at this case will give us some new leads and we're in that process right now," Winn said.

Winn says there is a high probability that Navarro is a victim of sexual exploitation. She says in Arizona, there are at least 342 missing children. She says a disproportionate amount are children of color.

If you have information about Alicia, you are asked to contact Glendale Police at 623-930-3000.