Abandoned 5-year-old carried toddler for half a mile to neighbor's house in extreme Alaskan winter, say police
VENETIE, ALASKA: A 5-year-old child who was left alone at home in a remote Alaska village carried an 18-month-old infant half a mile to a neighbor's home in the bitter cold wearing only socks and light clothing. A 37-year-old woman was later arrested for endangering the welfare of the minors but it is not known how she's related to the children.
On December 3, Alaska State Troopers received an alert about two children who had left their home and were suffering from cold-related injuries.
The troopers chartered an aircraft and landed at the village of Venetie in Alaska from where they got the alert. Once there, they found that a five-year-old boy had carried the eighteen-month-old infant for half a mile in -31F.
Further investigation revealed that the child had been left alone at home, and when there was a power cut, the child got afraid and carried the toddler to their neighbor's home.
At the time of leaving their residence, the boy was clothed in light winter wear and socks. Despite the chilly weather and his inadequate dressing, the boy walked nearly half a mile to find a neighbor.
Venetie is a small village in Alaska with a population of just 175.
Ken Marsh, a spokesman from the Alaska State Troopers, said that the nature or extent of children’s injuries was not immediately known.
According to the press release from the Alaska State Troopers Department, Julie Peter was arrested under one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degree.
The release says, “Julie Peter, 37 years old, of Venetie, was arrested on one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degree as a result of the investigation which revealed she deserted a five year old and 18 months old in her home with no adult supervision.”
The details of how long the children have been left alone at home have not been disclosed by the authorities, nor the nature of the relationship between Peter and the children.
Peter is currently booked into the Fairbanks Correctional Centre for her charges.