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Girl, 2, Survives for Days After Dad Dies
Fri Dec 19, 8:24 AM ET Add Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!



PHOENIX (Reuters) - A two-year-old girl survived on a diet of butter, mayonnaise and water for at least several days in her west Phoenix home as her father lay dead on the couch nearby, authorities say.



Police said Thursday they believed the girl was able to open the refrigerator and turn on a kitchen water faucet to sustain herself for the days she spent alone in the small residence.


She was found late on Wednesday by police officers and was reported to be in good condition at a crisis nursery at a local hospital.


"This is just an amazing story," said Detective Tony Morales. "She was dehydrated and a little undernourished but she came through it and should be fine."


Officers were called after an alert neighbor spotted water spilling from the home, knocked on the front door and heard cries when no one answered, Morales said. The daughter apparently was unable to turn off the water faucet.


Her 29-year-old father was found dead from what are believed to be natural causes. Authorities are trying to locate his family in El Salvador (news - web sites).


Morales said the tiny girl was crying and distraught when officers arrived, but was in reasonably good shape despite the heart-wrenching ordeal.


"It's just a wonderful situation that we were able to find the child in time. You don't want to think of what could have happened to her," he said.


Police said the mother is apparently a known drug addict who has no custodial rights to the child. Her whereabouts were not immediately known.