Found Alive TX - Christine Woo (fnd dec'd), 39, & 3 kids, Frisco, 28 March 2016

[mrsobrien]

But for 3 days?

I think we can safely assume that they were not feeling well after the first 12 hours or so without adequate food or water. Probably not up to making a brave decision... Little ones can't really gauge time or assess emergency situations, kwim?

I bet they cried and slept a lot during that time.

 

[JeannaT]

Also, why didn't she have her cell phone on her.... So strange...something odd must of happened in her home...she leaves her phone and the kids jackets at home...she looks like she is walking the plank walking into Walgreens... Something off....

I'm not sure the kids needed jackets. This is Texas, end of March. I'm not sure why she didn't have her cell phone with her, except she's trying to run errands and in the photo entering Walgreens she's festooned with children. It's easy to forget things in that situation.

On the other hand, interesting that her car is now considered a crime scene.

 

[JeannaT]

I think we can safely assume that they were not feeling well after the first 12 hours or so without adequate food or water. Probably not up to making a brave decision... Little ones can't really gauge time or assess emergency situations, kwim?

I bet they cried and slept a lot during that time.

I think you're probably right. I just would like to believe (maybe erroneously) that my 5 year old would make an attempt at getting out of the car within 3 days if she could. But maybe that's not realistic.

 

[LibbyinTexas]

I'm not sure the kids needed jackets. This is Texas, end of March. I'm not sure why she didn't have her cell phone with her, except she's trying to run errands and in the photo entering Walgreens she's festooned with children. It's easy to forget things in that situation.

On the other hand, interesting that her car is now considered a crime scene.

Yes, I live in Texas, close to Frisco/McKinney and those days she went missing did get chilly later but the dad mentioned specifically that she went out without their hoodies as if he thought she would or should of atleast taken them. We have had some cool days even in March where we need jackets...March is also known for having ice storms here. I just wonder if she was under some sort of extreme distress... Something horrible must of happened even before she left the house...in my opinion...thinking out loud...

 

[borndem]

One of the on-site reporters noticed that the car had one of those fold-out dashboard/sunshades in it -- and in the scene of the car behind the reporter, it does look like one of those sunshades is in use. That could certainly have blocked a lot of what could have been seen in the car -- if it was in use. Just a thought.

You can see it in this report:

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/03/31/missing-frisco-mother-found-dead-in-mckinney-children-alive/

 

[Bootsctr]

I'm not sure the kids needed jackets. This is Texas, end of March. I'm not sure why she didn't have her cell phone with her, except she's trying to run errands and in the photo entering Walgreens she's festooned with children. It's easy to forget things in that situation.

On the other hand, interesting that her car is now considered a crime scene.

Yes, a crime scene. Maybe routine, maybe not? I wonder if Christine worked as a nurse or worked as a stay-at-home mom. Frisco is going through a real rough patch with the FBI investigation into a local hospice service. All very sad and tragic.

 

[Bootsctr]

I think you're probably right. I just would like to believe (maybe erroneously) that my 5 year old would make an attempt at getting out of the car within 3 days if she could. But maybe that's not realistic.

I am finding it hard that the 5 y/o didn't get out of the vehicle either, but maybe she was unable to work the buckle fastener on her car seat. ? I'm thinking if the 5 y/o was able to get free she would have also have freed the 3 y/o. Maybe they were terrified to do anything and were trapped? Maybe they are witnesses to a murder?

 

[Bootsctr]

One of the on-site reporters noticed that the car had one of those fold-out dashboard/sunshades in it -- and in the scene of the car behind the reporter, it does look like one of those sunshades is in use. That could certainly have blocked a lot of what could have been seen in the car -- if it was in use. Just a thought.

You can see it in this report:

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/03/31/missing-frisco-mother-found-dead-in-mckinney-children-alive/

Yes, you can plainly see it and the reporter mentions it too as a reason maybe why the kids weren't seen. Also said mother was behaving erratically in the days leading up to disappearance. Despondent over her relationship with her husband.

ETA: Reporter also stated no signs of trauma to the body.

 

[jennapuppy]

IF she committed suicide, I wonder if she put something in the children's drinks that caused them to get sleepy. Maybe they were too dehydrated and disoriented to know how to respond to the situation. My heart just breaks for those poor babies.

 

[G.Keelie]

I can't believe media thought it was okay to call her cellphone. If there was a crime they are now involved in cell phone trail...even if she didn't have it with her. They are supposed to report, not investigate!

RIP...I hope the children will have family support through this confusing time.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Its possible, imo, that it did not occur to the child to get out of the car. I was once left in a car while my mom went into a video store. I was about 5. She was gone for what seemed like a long time. It was hot and my baby brother was in a car seat next to me, he was pouring sweat and crying. I poured water on him and watched the door of the video store...never even considered getting out. I trusted my mom to come back.

FTR, my mom did not mean to take so long, we were fine, and it never happened again. She regrets it to this day.

I also think that after some time, the children would have become dehydrated and may have slept quite a bit. Poor darlings.

 

[mrsobrien]

I think you're probably right. I just would like to believe (maybe erroneously) that my 5 year old would make an attempt at getting out of the car within 3 days if she could. But maybe that's not realistic.

I'm sure it depends on the child. I'm fairly sure that my 5 year old would get out of the car, but she is able to unbuckle her harness and is rather bold. On the other hand, my 7 year old is very sensitive and gets anxious easily, I'm not as confident that she would be in any state to flag down a stranger in an emergency.

I think I need to talk to my kids about emergencies. :-(

 

[eucalyptuz]

Such a sad story but at the same time a miraculous survival by the three kids. The visit to Walgreens is a bit alarming...sedative shopping? If this is a case of suicide by the mom, I am so, so glad she didn't take the kids with her as sometimes happens.

But those three nights in close quarters. I hope that they had food and water...but it's awful to think about the environment in that car. Especially if whatever happened to the mother, happened on that first night. I guess the younger two could still be in diapers but the 5-year-old would had needed the bathroom. Talking to their mom and getting no response...it hurts to think about.

I'm sure they'll physically recover from this but the emotional scars may take longer...bless.

 

[blue22]

Yes, I live in Texas, close to Frisco/McKinney and those days she went missing did get chilly later but the dad mentioned specifically that she went out without their hoodies as if he thought she would or should of atleast taken them. We have had some cool days even in March where we need jackets...March is also known for having ice storms here. I just wonder if she was under some sort of extreme distress... Something horrible must of happened even before she left the house...in my opinion...thinking out loud...

True to ll that, but specifically Monday temperature wise was around 70 and clear Monday. No storms, no temperature drops on Monday. I certainly did not send mine to school Monday with jackets or hoodies. It was so nice outside Monday.

 

[watcher9]

How tragic this ended up!
Prayers to the children as severe dehydration can cause long lasting effects on the body.
I don't think the father was up front with what was really going on that morning or in the days preceding it!

With the way locks are set up on car doors, a child may not know how to release the safety locks of doors or windows from the driver's lock pad. Sometimes the key has to be turned on to activate the locking system.

 

[blue22]

The local rumblings since Wednesday night, have been that the marriage wasn't great like the husband portrayed. Now that it's been reported on, I can say that. (I didn't want a time out!)

JMO, but I do believe it was suicide...but I can see the children going with family other than him. And I think that will play a part in her actions. JMO.

 

[Tssiemer]

The 5 year old didn't go for help?


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[MzOpinion8d]

I'm wondering if she got sleeping pills at Walgreens, then put them in the kids drinks and took a bunch herself. She may have thought they'd all fall asleep and die peacefully.

Wow.

 

[SCHMAE]

Crime scene tape may be standard. Technically speaking suicide is a crime, right? Until they can process the scene for any evidence of foul play, they have to secure it somehow. I hope they don't find suicide to be the cause. Maybe mom had drilled ' stranger danger' into them very well and they were more afraid to get out of the van than to stay in until some help arrived. I hope that dad, family or social workers will be diligent in getting them proper counseling for this ordeal, especially the 5 yr old. Hopefully the 2 younger ones won't have too big a scar on their psyche but 5 years old is old enough to absorb all of that trauma for sure.

 

[tiffay01]

I am so sad for those babies. I can only imagine the images these kiddos will live with, thankfully they are so young. I do hope there are cameras out there that will definitely confirm Mom is the one who parked the van, that she was the only adult in the vehicle from the moment the vehicle drove up and parked, and until the vehicle was found, thus eliminating foul play.

I can definitely understand the 5 year old not getting out of the car, my kids would not get out of the car period. They might have banged on the Windows etc. but not have gotten out. They knew better, we talked about how the cars could run over them and it would make mommy so sad for them to go to heaven before me because of it. So I feel confident they would have stayed put.
This reminds me of the Jenifer Huston situation although she didn't take her kids with her.