The Ohio mother of the 8-year-old girl who went viral for driving herself 16 miles to Target last month has revealed how her daughter was able to sneak out and buy $400 worth of toys and cosmetics. .
tansy wilson told the New York Times She said it was “impressive” that Zoe, a third-grader, stole her keys, ID, wallet, dog and SUV during a playdate without causing an accident. He said it was “impressive” that he was not punished for the dangerous exploits.
Wilson, a hairdresser, said Zoe was asleep when she drove and swerved on the road to Target, about 10 miles from her family's home in Bedford.
Her mother said she woke up on the morning of September 15, saw Zoe playing on her iPad on the couch, and went back to sleep.
But after a fight with her sister, Zoe jumped into her mother's 2020 Nissan Rogue for an early morning jaunt to Target with her dog, Bear, a Shih Tzu-poodle mix. Little did I know.
About 30 minutes later, after Wilson had fallen asleep again, Zoe's 15-year-old sister woke her mother and told her she and her dog were nowhere to be found.
The family realized their car was also gone and filed a missing person report around 7 a.m., assuming the worst, but Bedford police found the child driving the SUV erratically on the road. Responded to the report.
Police tracked the car to Target's parking lot. Inside the store, police found an unperturbed Zoe browsing the aisles with her dog Bear, who had just purchased $400 worth of items including an iPad case, toys and cosmetics.
Wilson told the Times that no adult would have thought to check in an obviously underage and unaccompanied girl when her daughter had paid such a high bill and made it through the checkout. He said he was confused that there was no such thing.
In the Facebook post, Bedford police sarcastically“I finally found a woman who shops at Target more quickly than her wife. Hurry even more by 8 years.”
“Thankfully she was unharmed and was quickly located by Bainbridge Police,” the post continued. I don't know what she bought or if she saved 5% using the Target app. We made her finish her Frappuccino. We are not mean. ”
Police said Zoe had receipts for $400 worth of merchandise that had been charged to her mother's card, and that she had Zoe return the items when they arrived.
Wilson said she wasn't concerned about the cheeky tone of the Facebook post and believes the officer either actually bought the Frappuccino for Zoe or just included it in the story as a way to look cute. spoke.
The mother added that Zoe expressed discomfort when questioned by officers and then casually told police that she had been playing around and had run into a green mailbox.
Despite the dangerous stunt, Wilson chose not to punish her daughter.
“I talked to her and reassured her that I loved her, that I didn't want anything to happen to her, and how dangerous and big this situation was,” Wilson told the Times. told.
Wilson admitted that her daughter's driving ability was “impressive,” especially that her 8-year-old was able to navigate the construction zone near the target without hitting anything.
But their daughter's newfound celebrity has created social stress for the family, which has a normal schedule that includes sports.
And in an unexpected twist, Zoe's adventures serve as inspiration for her research.
Regarding her daughter, Wilson said, “My daughter said, “I'm worried because I'm doing multiplication and it's difficult.''
“So I said, 'Zoe, did you know how to drive a car before you drove the other day?'” And she said, “No.” And I thought, “Okay, just like multiplication, I don't know how to do it, but I'm going to learn. ”
