We're always relieved when a "missing toddler" story ends happily with the child found alive and well. This story ends that way -- but with a wacky twist. Three-year-old Dagan Poole went missing one afternoon. There was a search, and by 3:00 p.m. that same day, little Dagan was found inside a neighbor's duplex -- along with some tampered bottles of alcohol, a board game that had been out of reach, and some candy. The neighbor, Yvette O'Day, had been away at work the whole time.
What the what? How did this happen?
Nobody knows. Dagan's mother Zena was sleeping in after working late. Dagan woke her up around 11:30 a.m. and then headed right out the front door. As they do.
Okay, did you catch all of that? Because it's kind of loopy. Dagan woke up his mama just before noon and then wandered off. There was a search and he was found at Yvette's home later that afternoon. But Yvette had nothing to do with it -- she was at work all this time. And if you ask Dagan, he just says "yes" to everything. Because he's 3.
Anyway, there's a school across from Yvette's home so maybe a kid found Dagan wandering around and decided to try a little pro bono babysitting. Who knows? Of course, it also looks like they helped themselves to some wine and schnapps. It's like a wacky, teenaged version of Goldilocks.
At least Dagan is safe. It doesn't look like he was harmed or even remotely traumatized. We may never know what really happened -- but I sure hope Zena starts locking her door.
Has your toddler ever tried to just walk out the door alone?
Image via KCTV5
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Comments 9
Just simply locking a door doesn't work. Three year olds can very well unlock a door. What is needed is a chain lock way out of a child's reach. Yes my kids have unlocked a door and wandered out alone. It happens. Thankfully, this child was found safe and unharmed.
WOW I see this happen here in my town atleast 3 times a week the neighbors let there children out to play ... and I mean small kids wandering
Yep, we had to put extra locks on the tops of all the doors! Although we live in suburbia it looks like we think we live in the inner city lol! My youngest by also 3 looooves to go outside, you couldn't shower, use the restroom, make a meal, vacuum or anything without him trying to run out the door... mostly cause he knows there is a little park in the middle of our neighborhood.
The locks obviously keep him from escaping without an adult to go with him.
Happened to me with my oldest, in the middle of the day as well. I was unloading/loading the dishwasher and thought he was occupied with tv and toys, but he opened the door (for the first time, by the way, so I was completely taken by surprise!) and took off. We called 911, and the police did a door to door sweep of the neighborhood. Turned out he had walked across the street and let himself in the neighbor's house, she found him when she came in from the garden to answer the front door. That day we added dead-bolts and a chain to all the doors.
I agree, my two year old(soon to be 3) can open and unlock a door and head outside so top locks are needed. It does happen! With a little careful preperation this can be avoided. Im just glad the child turned up unharmed and no worse for the wear.