Praxedis G. Guerrero, Mexico (CNN) -- Authorities on Friday denied published reports that Marisol Valles Garcia -- the 20-year-old criminology student who made headlines when she became the police chief in the town of Praxedis G. Guerrero, Mexico -- had left the country for the United States and was seeking asylum. Valles Garcia grabbed international attention last year when she took over the top job in a police force whose officers have been abducted and killed. Praxedis Mayor Jose Luis Guerrero told CNN that Valles Garcia is on personal leave because her 8-month-old baby is sick. He said she is expected back at work Monday.
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Marisol Valles Garcia is police chief in a violent Mexican municipality
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A newspaper and a news service say she has fled to the U.S., seeking asylum
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Mexican authorities deny the reports and say she is on personal leave
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Valles Garcia was just 20 years old when she accepted the police chief's position
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The spokesman said he did not know whether Valles Garcia has left @placeholder or not.