5-Year-Old in Alaska Carries Toddler Half a Mile in Subzero Temperatures

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A 5-year-old child who was left alone with his toddler sibling in Alaska hiked half a mile to a neighbor's house after the power went out and he became afraid, state troopers said in a release on Friday.

According to a release from the Department of Public Safety, Alaska State Troopers were called out for a request for a welfare check on two children in the village of Venetie on Tuesday after the pair of children arrived at the neighbor's home. Troopers chartered a plane to get to the remote village of 175 people, to investigate the allegations.

Troopers said after conducting an investigation, the mother had "deserted a 5-year-old and a 18-month-old in her home with no adult supervision." At the time, the temperature in the village located about 155 miles north of Fairbanks was -31F.

The toddler was only wearing socks and light clothing at the time when the children arrived at the neighbor's home. Officials said it was unclear how long the pair of children were on their own before they decided to hike out to their neighbor's house. Both children reported received "cold-related" injuries as a result of their walk through sub-zero temperatures.

The children's mother, identified as Julie Peter, 37, was arrested for allegedly endangering the welfare of a minor. Jail records show that Peter was "out of custody" after a court ordered her release.

Photo: Getty Images


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