Deserted 5-year-old takes toddler to neighbor in bitter cold

[Judi Lynn]

Authorities say a 5-year-old left alone with a toddler in a rural Alaska village carried the younger child half a mile to a neighbor's house in the bitter cold after the power went out
By
DAN JOLING Associated Press
December 6, 2019, 11:37 PM
2 min read

A 5-year-old child left alone in a house in a remote Alaska village carried a toddler half a mile to a neighbor's home in the bitter cold wearing only socks and light clothing after the power went out, authorities said Friday.

Both children suffered cold-weather injuries in temperatures that dipped to 31 degrees below zero (minus 35 Celsius) in the village of Venetie, Alaska State Troopers said in a news release. Spokesman Ken Marsh couldn't immediately detail the extent or nature of the injuries.

The adult who left the children in the home, Julie Peter, 37, has been arrested on suspicion of endangering the welfare of a minor. Online court records do not list the case, and it's not known if she has an attorney. She remained jailed Friday.

Troopers on Tuesday received a request to check on the two children in a village of 175 people about 155 miles (250 kilometers) north of Fairbanks. Like other interior Alaska communities, it sees extreme temperature variations throughout the year and in winter routinely reaches 40 degrees below zero or lower.

More:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/deserted-year-takes-toddler-neighbor-bitter-cold-67557987

[marble falls]

1. What a great kid. What's wrong with adults.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. I can't begin to imagine how any adult would leave a child

alone in such temperatures. Personally, I'd just leave the mom (and the dad if he's reasonably nearby) out in the cold for the same length of time. Maybe a bit longer, given the adult body can probably deal with/survive those temperatures better than a small child's body can.

I have not lived in Alaska, but I've lived in northern New York State and Minneapolis and have experienced those temperatures.

[Karadeniz]

3. Not everyone should have children.