MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

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March 27, 2008

Great-grandfather of child found in street: I’m the one to blame

By Donna Hales

The 87-year-old great-grandfather of a 3-year-old who wandered from home and crossed two lanes of traffic said Thursday her home is safe for her.

An alarm was being installed Thursday on the front door and a lock she couldn’t open, Leroy Phillips said.

The child’s mother had worked doing laundry and cleaning house until after 2 a.m., and had slept in Tuesday, he said. Phillips said he was supposed to be watching the little girl when she toddled off.

“She got up with me, and I fixed her some breakfast. She was in the kitchen and living room and then went into the bedroom and closed the door,” Phillips said.

He believed the child had gone back to bed, so Phillips sat down in his recliner, he said.

“I just happened to go to sleep. I woke up when a lady came to the door to tell me about her (wandering off).

“I’m the one to blame — I was watching her.”

The family lives in the 800 Block of Kershaw Drive on 2 1/2 acres. The child likes to play in the yard, but had never wandered off before Tuesday, he said.

“Her other grandpa lives in the high rise, and I think she had it in her head that’s where she was going,” he said.

Phillips said he appreciates the people who helped rescue her.

“It was just an accident, the only time she ever did that,” he said. “It was a dangerous situation — she could have got run over. But she’s not being neglected. It just happened.

“We’ve put an alarm on the door and a lock on that she can’t get open. She’s just a little doll.”

Police made a report to the Muskogee County District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant District Attorney Nikki Baker Dotson said Thursday she has the report under review.

A Department of Human Services social worker went to where the child was found walking barefoot in traffic and then visited the home, police said. The great-grandfather said the child was allowed to return to her home.

And that’s where the family wants her, Phillips said.



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