ARIZONA NEWS

Man connected to Alicia Navarro case arrested on child sexual abuse charges

Oct 24, 2023, 11:20 AM | Updated: Oct 25, 2023, 7:02 am

Alicia Navarro before her disappearance from Glendale, Arizona, in 2019 and after she showed up at ...

Alicia Navarro before her disappearance from Glendale, Arizona, in 2019 and after she showed up at a Montana police station on July 23, 2023. (Photos via Glendale Police Department)

(Photos via Glendale Police Department)

A man who’d been living with a missing Arizona teenager when she turned up in Montana earlier this year was arrested Monday on child sexual abuse charges related to material found on his cellphone, authorities said.

The development was announced Tuesday in a press release from the the Montana Attorney General’s Office.

It was unknown if Edmund Davis, 36, is considered a suspect in the disappearance of Alicia Navarro. Authorities in Montana referred questions to law enforcement in Arizona, who said the investigation into the teenager’s disappearance is ongoing.

Police seized Davis’ cellphone in July when they served a search warrant at an apartment in Havre, Montana.

The warrant was served three days after Navarro walked into the local police department July 23 and asked to be taken off a missing person’s list because she’d turned 18 and wanted to begin her life as an adult.

How long was Arizona teen Alicia Navarro missing?

It was the first time Navarro, who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, had been heard from since she disappeared from her family home in Glendale on Sept. 15, 2019, just days before her 15th birthday.

Davis was later identified as Navarro’s boyfriend, according to charging documents. It’s unclear how long they’d been living together or where else the teen had been during her disappearance.

Prosecutors say Davis was seen throwing a cellphone in the kitchen trash when police served the search warrant and Navarro answered the door.

A warrant was obtained later to search the device, which contained multiple images that were considered child sexual abuse material, according to charging documents.

What are the charges against Edmund Davis?

Prosecutors filed two counts of sexual abuse of children against Davis last week and kept the charges under seal until his arrest in Chinook, about 22 miles east of Havre in northern Montana.

He was being held in the Hill County Detention Center on a $1 million bond.

Davis faces a possible life sentence because of how young the children in the images are.

The case was investigated by the Havre and Glendale police department and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.

Glendale police declined to answer questions Tuesday on the investigation into Navarro’s disappearance, including what additional information authorities had gathered during the residence search in Havre and in follow-up interviews.

Where is Alicia Navarro now?

Trent Steele, a private investigator who assisted Navarro’s mother in the search for her daughter through the Miami-based nonprofit Anti-Predator Project, said investigators continue to look at the circumstances of the teenager’s disappearance.

More charges in the case are possible, Steele said, adding that Navarro was “in a safe place” without disclosing the particulars.

“The decision was to charge him with the most obvious crimes, the most serious crimes and the ones that we can probably make stick without having to retraumatize anybody,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

The evacuation order for the Brady Fire was lifte on Wednesday....

KTAR.com

Evacuation order lifted for residents near Brady Fire south of Prescott

The evacuation order for a community threatened by the Brady Fire south of Prescott was lifted on Wednesday evening, authorities said.

2 hours ago

off-road vehicle crash...

Kevin Stone

2nd teen in off-road vehicle crash at Phoenix canal has died

The second teen involved in an off-road vehicle crash at a Phoenix canal last week has died, authorities announced Wednesday.

2 hours ago

Two men were injured on Wednesday night when a suspect opened fire at a group of unsheltered people...

Kevin Stone

Suspect opens fire at unsheltered people at Tempe park, injuring 3

Three people were injured on Wednesday night when a suspect opened fire at a group of unsheltered people in Tempe, authorities said.

3 hours ago

A confiscated firearm is seen sitting on a table at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Feb...

Serena O'Sullivan

Phoenix Sky Harbor hopes to cut down on amount of firearms in security checkpoints this year

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport officials are trying to educate passengers on how to at properly travel with firearms.

4 hours ago

The Phoenix Zoo announced a new habitat 'Big Cats of Arizona: A Bridge to Arizona Wilderness' will ...

Bailey Leasure

Big cats of Arizona habitat set to open at Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo announced a new habitat 'Big Cats of Arizona: A Bridge to Arizona Wilderness' will be opening at the zoo in April. 

4 hours ago

I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project...

Danny Shapiro

New lanes open to motorists as part of I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project

The I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project is one step closer to completion after new lanes on the highway recently opened, transportation officials announced Wednesday.

5 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Bright Wealth Management

How IRAs are a helpful tool in retirement planning

When it comes to retirement planning, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be a great tool for income growth.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to start your retirement planning early and avoid costly mistakes

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can avoid costly pitfalls.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to save money on retirement planning following 2024 election

PHOENIX -- With the 2024 election over, economic changes could impact how people plan for retirement as 2025 is on the horizon.

Man connected to Alicia Navarro case arrested on child sexual abuse charges