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911 transcript of 5-year-old
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (AP) This is the transcript of the Monday morning 911 call 5-year-old Tia Hernlen made after she found her mother dead or dying and father mortally wounded in the bedroom of their New Smyrna Beach home. (Related: 5-year-old reports killings | Audio clip of 911 call)
OPERATOR: 911, what is your emergency?
CHILD:Um, hello.
OPERATOR: Hello. Is everything OK?
CHILD: My mommy and daddy
OPERATOR: Uh-huh.
CHILD: I think there is a bullet on the floor.
OPERATOR: And the what?
CHILD: And there is blood, coming out of my dad's mouth and he fell off the bed.
OPERATOR: He did? Where's mommy at?
CHILD: She is, I don't know, I think they're dead.
OPERATOR: What do you mean sweetheart?
CHILD: I don't know.
OPERATOR: OK, your daddy's on the floor. How old are you?
CHILD: I'm 5 years old and I have a dog in a house.
OPERATOR: OK baby, OK. Let me get someone right over to you. Did you, did you go in your mommy and daddy's room?
CHILD: Uh-huh, and there is blood.
OPERATOR: All over the place?
CHILD: Not all over. There's blood on the plant and blood on the floor.
OPERATOR: Oh my goodness and you have your little doggie with you?
CHILD: And three cats.
OPERATOR: And three cats too?
CHILD: Three cats and one dog.
OPERATOR: OK, are you the the only one there besides mommy and daddy?
CHILD: Well I said "Mommy" and "Daddy" and they didn't even answer.
OPERATOR: OK, OK, what I want you to do honey. I want you to stay on the phone with me. What is your name?
CHILD: (tells operator her name)
OPERATOR: Oh that is a very pretty name.
CHILD: (blocked out)
OPERATOR: Oh, I'm so sorry, that is a beautiful name. What is your doggie's name?
CHILD: Lizzah
OPERATOR: OK, and what made you wake up tonight?
CHILD: There was, I think I heard a gunshot.
OPERATOR: You heard a gun?
CHILD: Yes, and I see a bullet lying on the floor. I think it's a bullet.
OPERATOR: Really!
CHILD: Mmm-hmm
OPERATOR: Who has a gun in the house?
CHILD: I don't see a gun but I'm scared.
OPERATOR: Oh sweetheart!. .. I will not let anything happen to you.
CHILD: Can you send a deputy down here?
OPERATOR: I promise I will. .. and you're only 5 years old?
CHILD: Mmm-hmm
OPERATOR: You are so smart for 5 years old. Wow!. .. are you off from school this week?
CHILD: Um, no, I go to school next year.
OPERATOR: You do? Oh my gosh, you're not even in kindergarten yet?
CHILD: Nope.
OPERATOR: Oh, what's your doggie's name?
CHILD: Lizzah
OPERATOR: Lizzah, what kind of doggie is she?
CHILD: She's a lab.
OPERATOR: Oh my God, I love those. Those are so beautiful. Is she a black lab or is she a yellow lab?
CHILD: A black lab.
OPERATOR: Oh, you are so smart.
CHILD: With, um, brown eyes.
OPERATOR: Oh my goodness, how old is she?
CHILD: She is like 3 years old, or, 2 years old, I don't really know.
OPERATOR: Wow!. .. You can remember for a really long time.
CHILD: Yup.
OPERATOR: Oh my goodness. Was there anybody else in the house tonight besides you and mommy and daddy tonight? Like an uncle or anything?
CHILD: No, there's no robber in the house.
OPERATOR: OK, well I didn't think there would be a robber sweetheart. Did you have anybody staying over the night with you guys tonight?
CHILD: Nnn- nnn
OPERATOR: OK. So and the doors are all locked? And everything like that. .. Where are you in the house?
CHILD: Well, I was in my room sleeping till I heard a noise shot and it woke me up.
OPERATOR: Oh my goodness. Uh, what part of the house are you in at now?
CHILD: I'm in the one, it's yellow, all yellow house, of green, green with it, a little bit of green, and a pink door.
OPERATOR: Oh my goodness, that sounds really cool. Did you pick out the pink door?
CHILD: Um, no, my mom picked out the door.
OPERATOR: Look, I bet you that is beautiful. Does mommy and daddy have a car in the driveway?
CHILD: Mmm-hmm, two cars.
OPERATOR: Two cars? What kind of cars do they have?
CHILD: Umm, my mom has a Toyota.
OPERATOR: What color is that Toyota?
CHILD: Umm
OPERATOR: Is it dark, or grey, or silver?
CHILD: It's um red.
OPERATOR: Red? OK, what kind of car does daddy have?
CHILD: He has a Jeep. It's black and. ..
OPERATOR: OK, listen to me (name). Is your phone the type that you can take with you and walk around?
CHILD: Um, this. ..
OPERATOR: There should be an officer at your front door. I need for you to take your phone with you and walk over to the door and open it for me, OK? And I will stay on the phone with you, OK?
CHILD: But um. ..
OPERATOR: I will not hang up.
CHILD: I'm naked.
OPERATOR: Oh, well do you want to grab a towel or something? I don't think the officer's going to care baby. We just want to make sure that mommy and daddy are OK, all right?
CHILD: Mmm-hmm.
OPERATOR: Grab a blanket or something. Stay on the phone with me, stay on the phone, alright?
CHILD: OK.
OPERATOR: My name is Donna, by the way. You are doing a wonderful job (blocked), wonderful job.
CHILD: And I know what to do for (incoherent)
OPERATOR: You did great!
CHILD: I knew
OPERATOR: You were wonderful, absolutely wonderful. You should be very proud of yourself.
CHILD: I'm to the door, I'm unlocking it.
OPERATOR: OK, you let me know when the officer talks to you. OK you go ahead (blocked), talk to the officer.
OFFICER: (background) You talking to the dispatcher? OK, tell her I'm here now and you can hang up.
OPERATOR: Bye sweetheart.
CHILD: Um, he's here.
OPERATOR: OK sweetheart, you be good, OK? Bye-bye.
