When Lizbeth and Christian Moreno sent off their five-year-old nonverbal, autistic daughter to school on Oct. 1, they never expected to receive this call from the principal: “I just want to let you know she eloped, but I have her in the car, and we’re on our way to school now,” Lizbeth remembered.
Lizbeth claimed it took her a second to digest the information.
“At first, I was like, ‘alright, alright.’ But then I said, ‘Wait, wait, wait—what do you mean, eloped? What exactly do you mean by that?” What do you mean when you tell me she eloped and is in your car?” she asked.
According to a Carrollton Police Department report based on video camera footage, the five-year-old strolled around the facility, out of sight of teachers, at approximately 12:14 p.m. She is then seen heading around the west side of the building, then to the south parking lot, and then eastbound toward Scott Mill Road.
According to the report, at about 12:26 p.m., the girl is observed heading south on Scott Mill Road and disappearing from camera view. “It was at this point that personnel recognized [the girl] was missing and could be seen on camera searching for [the girl].
NBC 5 is hiding the child’s name since she is a minor.
According to the police report, officers were notified of the missing youngster at about 12:37 p.m.
They said a witness discovered the girl and drove her to the fire station.
NBC 5 spoke with the eyewitness. She declined to go on camera but stated that she discovered the girl in the middle of the road.
She also spoke to the Morenos.
“I’m forever going to be grateful for her because she saved my daughter’s life,” she said.
She claimed the Good Samaritan had initially rolled down her window and spoken to her daughter.
“I told her, ‘Go back on the sidewalk, baby, go back,'” she told Lizbeth.
She stated that once she began driving away, she noticed in her rearview mirror that the girl continued returning to the street while other cars swerved around her.
That’s when the woman turned around and pulled the five-year-old into her car.
“She told me she was red and hot, and when she got into her car, all she could say was, ‘Hot. Hot. Food. Food.'” And she told me, ‘Right away, I recognized she had special needs, so I took her straight to the fire station.'” Lizbeth spoke.
As parents, the Morenos are still considering the “what-ifs.”
“What if she had gone the other way?” What if she’d gone for George Bush? What if… she kept coming into houses, and a pet or a dog—or anything—attacked her?” Lizbeth asked.
According to the police report, Morenos’ daughter had previously attempted to walk away but was stopped by a school security guard.
The Morenos stated that this was news to them.
“We never received a call or message stating, ‘Oh, she tried to leave campus.’ “Not one. Nothing.” Lizbeth spoke.
She stated that even in this case, she was not contacted until everything was over.
“You called me around one p.m. Why wasn’t I the first person y’all called? “Why was I last?” She said.
They want the district to improve communication and implement safety measures.
“Build a fence and cover the playground area,” Christian added. “Of course, I want the teachers to be more cautious and pay attention to the kids.”
The Morenos say they will meet with the administration on Friday.
However, they are currently taking control of their own safety.
“I have to send her to school with an AirTag now!” Lizbeth spoke. “If she’s wearing a dress, I put it in her shorts, like, I put it underneath, kind of hidden, where it’s not noticeable.”
They want to ensure that they never receive a similar call, nor does anybody else.
“I don’t want this to ever happen to another child; another family should never have to experience this situation,” Lizbeth told me.
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD issued the following statement: “The district will not comment on ongoing investigations.” Because of student and personnel privacy restrictions, this is the only information we can provide.”
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