The story doesn't tell the details, but I got the impression that the 5-year-old let herself out because she thought she heard the dog.
I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that the mom would have just let her daughter out alone and unsupervised at that hour.
I think this a time for those of us who are reading this story to feel sympathy rather than judgment.
The five year old thought it was ok to go outside the house at 230am. Reason doesn’t matter
I know the area critters be out there
I have a kid like that. Took the keys to the mercedes when she was 3 when i was on the phone. Followed her out there. Had to fight her out of the driver’s seat. She had places to go
I never took my eyes off her. People gave me so much crap for that too
Any house we lived in, hotel or home we visited id have to batten down
I put chain locks up high on every door, set the alarm
I never let her even walk to the mail box alone.
She would have gone outside middle of the night