Child Psychiatrist Talks About Destiny Norton Case

Child Psychiatrist Talks About Destiny Norton Case


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Ashley Hayes Reporting As investigators dig for leads and searchers look for clues, frustration is building in the case of missing five-year-old Destiny Norton, mostly because there is so little information to go on.

So far, friends and family have only been able to speculate as to what could have happened to the little girl.

Right now it would be so helpful to know what this little girl was thinking when she left her home Sunday night. Was she scared? Angry? A five-year-old's mind may intrepret that day's events far differently than an adult's.

Dr. P. Brent Petersen, Child Psychiatrist, Valley Mental Health: "Five year olds can be very impulsive and exuberant and certainly don't have a lot of logic that governs their decisions."

Friends and family say the usually bubbly five year old was angry when she went out in the yard by herself Sunday night.

A different demeanor entirely from the Destiny Norton we saw on home video a few days ago. She doesn't appear to have a care in the world. Smiling, jumping around in front of the camera... typical five-year-old behavior.

But a child psychologist says for a little girl, an argument with her parents might be enough to make a generally happy little girl run away.

Dr. P. Brent Petersen, Child Psychiatrist, Valley Mental Health: "Having an argument with a parent could be a pretty big trauma for the day." "Certainly in this case, a five year old wouldn't understand the risks of leaving home at night."

And it has now been nearly three days since Destiny Norton disappeared Sunday night.

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