No charges will be filed against the parents of a four-year old girl found alone on the side of the Purple Heart Parkway in Clarksville Monday morning and police have released the back story on the incident.
A photo of the girl, identified as ‘Alana,’ was shared thousands of times after it was circulated by Clarksville police and many were left to question how the girl could have been in state custody for seven hours with no one missing her.
That story came in an email from Clarksville police several hours later.
Alana, her mother, her brother and several other family members were at a movie night Sunday at her grandmother’s home.
Her mother had a morning appointment and left Alana in the care of a responsible teenage relative who had watched the child before, but that duty may have not been properly communicated and received on both ends.
The teen had napped during the movie and then stayed up late and was asleep with Alana in her bed Monday morning.
Alana was already gone when the teen woke up, but the teen didn’t report her missing because she was not aware she was supposed to be watching the girl. Police say the family believes Alana may have gotten up and unlocked the door to leave shortly after her mother departed for an appointment Monday morning.
Alana was found by a good samaritan next to the busy highway at about 9 a.m. and attempts by police to find family members in the area were unsuccessful.
She was kept in Department of Child Services custody for most of the day until the photo and information on local media and social media led to her father being notified and reuniting with his daughter.
Police say after considering the totality of the events and with no history of reports in Alana’s case, no charges were filed against the parents. Police note the girl is healthy and there did not appear to be any intent of neglect.
Clarksville police thanked the community for sharing the photo and bringing a quick end to the search for her family.
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