[wideawake]

Hmmm . . . apparently the police report states that she actually made it into the church before returning to the van herself.

I can see how it would be possible for her to open an unlocked minivan (many models allow you to just tug the handle and it opens the sliding rear door) and then accidentally lock it from the inside without realizing how to open it again.

[StolarStorm]

I’m not buying it either.

[IYAS9YAS]

I can see how it would be possible for her to open an unlocked minivan (many models allow you to just tug the handle and it opens the sliding rear door) and then accidentally lock it from the inside without realizing how to open it again.

The article doesn't say that the van was locked when they found her. My take - the other girls were said to be taking naps in the pews. Maybe this little girl had a special item (doll, stuffed animal, pillow) in the van she liked to nap with. She made it to the van, got in, and then laid down to take a nap. The heat did the rest.