Hope Trott, 3-Year-Old Maine Girl, Makes Mile-Long Midnight Walk Alone In The Snow

When Hope Lillian Trott woke up in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, the toddler didn't cry or wake her family. True to her name, the 3-year-old Maine resident got out of bed and trotted off down the street.

Thinking her mother was at the grocery store buying pizza, Hope zipped a jacket over her nightgown, slipped on the red shoes from her prized Minnie Mouse outfit, and walked out the front door of her family's house. According to the Bangor Daily News, the little girl trudged through the night, leaving tiny footprints in the snow as she walked a mile to the store.

When an employee arrived to clean the floors at 4 a.m., he found the girl crying out front and promptly alerted police, the Associated Press reported. Officers traced Trott's tiny tracks to return to her home, fearing there had been a home invasion when they found the front door ajar.

Instead, the Baileyville police found Hope's parents and siblings sound asleep, and uncertain whether to be more frightened by the officers in their home or their toddler back from her midnight trek.

Fortunately, all's well that ends well with little Hope, who was examined at the local hospital and received a clean bill of health from her walk in the 29-degree night. According to the police chief, however, Trott was quite upset to learn that her mother had not been to the store, the Bangor Daily News reported. When mother and daughter visited the grocery later on Wednesday, the owner greeted his most loyal little customer with a box of Valentine's chocolates.

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Comments

[John Hazelton Smith]

04:05 PM on 02/26/2012

why would she think her parents were at the store before checking their bedroom? I'm glad she wasn't hurt or damaged... Lot's of crazies out there...

[Helen Greenfeld]

08:07 AM on 02/28/2012

Try to think like a three year old and you will get it

[Mailman]

07:49 AM on 02/26/2012

Thank God there wasn't any child predators out there.

[nanaofmysky]

07:12 PM on 02/25/2012

Reason that all doors going outside need to have a chain on them. Children like to wonder so it is up to parents to protect them. Good thing she didn't get hurt. That was quite aways she walked.

[Ashley Winner]

09:11 AM on 02/25/2012

maybe she was sleep walking? wow, bless her hearth, thank the Lord for walking with her that night. and getting her hone safely. gave me cold chills to read this, picturing my own kids doing this, but then i think, what kid is going to conciouslly get up put their coat on and walk outside and walk that far in the middle of the night???its just odd to me, maybe she wasnt completly awake or something....or dreamingi dont kno. but it is a miracle that she is hoe, safe and sound. what a beautiful little girl she is. Bless her and her family.

[Laura Trott]

08:32 AM on 02/25/2012

Thank you... I am not a neglectful parent. I am a full time mom and love it. I take care of my childrens every need. I still don't know what made her get up and leave nothing like this has every happened to give me the idea she would my children are never left alone. we go to that store often b/c it is the only one in 15miles. I also understand where some of you are coming from b/c their are a lot of parents out there like that. I AM NOT ONE OF THEM. Sorry, but I would be broken if anything happened. My children are my life. I love them dearly. It was by God's grace that she is okay and every-time I look at her I feel the worst could have happened and everyday is precious to be able to hold her and tell her I love her over and over again. I know you all are wanting to make me seem like a horrible mom. But I was sleeping and didn't hear her. I can't be charged for that. There was nothing I could do about it.

[Ashley Winner]

09:19 AM on 02/25/2012

dont let what some idiots say to you get under your skin.im sure you find it just as odd as the rest of us. your parenting skills have nothing to do with this, accidents happen, tragedy strikes, accident, and tragedy to not discriminate. it can happen to parents like you, like me, and the ones who are neglectful to their kids. alltho, it almost seems like it happens less to them.all that matters now is that your angel is back home where she belongs. she was taking a little midnight stroll LOOKING FOR HER MOTHER BECASUE SHE LOVES HER MOTHER! ya know! lol awww bless all your hearts hunny. dont let anyone steal your joy, and ignore what ppl have to say, this is your life you know the truth.Your a great mom and your kids are lucky. you cant help what your kids do, or get into when you arent awake. what are you suppose to do? never sleep? keep your eyes peeled 24 hours a day, watch them sleep 7 nights a week? becasue doing that still dont guarantee that tragedy wont strike. just if it does you wont be mentally ready for it cuz you wont have enoughsleep rest. get your sleep. cherish your daughter like never before, ( and i kno you allready are) and ignore and get rid of negative coments that get you no where. stay strong, and continue on momma. your little angels back home.

[2payattention]

10:03 AM on 02/26/2012

a few pieces of advice for you, Mom:

1) Get the alarm for door that someone else commented about.
2) Go hug your daughter and other children again
3) Stop reading these comments and trying to defend yourself. It will drive you mad. You don't have to defend yourself to people who don't know you, will never know the care and love and attention you give your children.
4) Go hug your children again.

[ShyChiLady]

09:13 PM on 02/24/2012

FINALLY A STORY WITH A HAPPY ENDING AND NO FOUL PLAY!

[rww549]

06:49 PM on 02/24/2012

One thing I learned when raising my kid was that they will do what you least expect. Their simple incomplete view of the world is heart warming as well as scary.

[mmee]

06:34 PM on 02/24/2012

Go to the $ tree. An alarm, which is loud only cost $1.00. Easy to install, (it sticks on) It will go off any time the door is opened. I have someone with Alzheimers and it is well worth it.

[Laura Trott]

08:14 AM on 02/25/2012

Thanks this is the mother will do!

[mmee]

10:07 AM on 02/25/2012

Yes, only $1.00. However this is a cheap one. You set it and it goes off when the door is opened. This breaks the sensor. It will only cut off when you cut it off. NO timer, but effective. Best to check before you leave store as the batteries could be dead.
Note: Can be ordered on-line, but costs about $4 plus shipping.

[land2341]

09:09 AM on 02/27/2012

Laura, don't feel too bad we had a sleep walking child too, who was an escape artist! We put these alarms because my husband was too afraid that a chain lock would trap us in the event of a fire. We ended up putting it on her bedroom door so I'd know if she was out of her room at all because she was getting up and getting into all kinds of things - sound asleep.

I'm glad your baby was safe. Good luck!

[Ashley Winner]

09:21 AM on 02/25/2012

do you really mean 1.00??? i never heard of an alarm that costs a dollar. can you set it up so it only goes off at ceritan times? i.e night time?

[land2341]

09:07 AM on 02/27/2012

Its a simple device that you attach to the door and the door sill that goes off if the door is opened.

[yesythegreat]

06:21 PM on 02/24/2012

I'm glad this had a happy ending but this is indeed scary. My toddler knows better than to leave the house by herself but she is able to unlock and open doors for safety. I've always told her that she should never leave the house by herself unless its an emergency. I just wonder if this little girl was given permission on other occasions to leave on her own that led her to believe that she could do that whenever she thought it was ok.

[Laura Trott]

08:14 AM on 02/25/2012

Never!!!

[yesythegreat]

05:33 PM on 02/27/2012

I understand kids have a mind of their own and they are too smart for their own good. I'm glad your little one is safe and sound. I just wondered because in my area kids come and go because the parents allow it. And as new little ones sprout they follow what their older siblings do. Like someone mentioned before, do not listen to the naysayers and the rude comments. No one can truly understand the situation unless they are in it themselves.

[lchristian1954]

04:12 PM on 02/24/2012

LOCKS children can not reach.... Parents today do not think.... The world is crazy and parents need to start using COMMOM SENSE when it comes to their children.....

[donwords]

05:39 PM on 02/24/2012

I agree. We need more commom sense.

[capnwickie]

04:09 PM on 02/24/2012

finally...a story with a HAPPY ending...

[jedisabre]

04:04 PM on 02/24/2012

Since I have had a number of responses indicating that it was believed I was being critical to the parents, let me clarify that what I meant was that it would have been obviously intelligent to have some safeguard to prevent a young child from wandering out in the middle of the night where the child could have been kidnapped, abused, and/or killed. My point was not to unfairly criticize the parents. So if you want to make sure little kids do not escape in the night by unlocking doors which would be UNSAFE (for them to be roaming around outside by themselves)
and for no FIRE HAZARD, figure it out. Was I not even kind communicating that some safeguard needs to be implemented so a child is not endangered by supervision or locks being remiss? Strike a balance. You have to make sure the lock system is sufficient without a fire hazard.

[dperrie130]

03:01 PM on 02/24/2012

My 4 yr old grandson got up early one morning and went to a neighbors for "candy", he knew she always had it for him and off he went, thank God and the angels above that nothing happened and that the neighbor did not call the cops, they frown upon that. we purchased the (door ajar) alarm and they put up high so when they go to bed they know he will be safe, also, it would deter anyone trying to get in that way. He is smart and could unlock the deadbolt from inside the house. families of Alzheimers use it for their loved ones.

[900]

04:24 PM on 02/24/2012

What a great comment. I did not know that there was a door ajar alarm. Thank you for sharing this information. :)

[mamasilverhair]

02:56 PM on 02/24/2012

I am glad she is okay... and it is time to put a lock she can't get open on the door. I am kidding, I am sure she learned her valuble lesson. for those who are still young enough to have small children around... learn something from this yourself... Locks they can't reach...to keep em in...

[donwords]

05:41 PM on 02/24/2012

good idea...a lesson learned...a life saved, maybe.

[satyrday]

02:56 PM on 02/24/2012

Did they ever get the pizza?

[Laura Trott]

08:16 AM on 02/25/2012

We had pizza for lunch it was already in my freezer.