A Buckeye, Ariz., man left his 5-year-old granddaughter alone in the desert with a loaded and cocked .45-caliber handgun and directions to “shoot any bad guys,” officials said Monday.
Paul Armand Rater, 53, told sheriff’s deputies his vehicle had broken down and that he left the girl under a tree in the desert because she couldn’t walk any further, Reuters reports. Rater admitted that after leaving the girl “he went for a few drinks and a cheeseburger,” the Maricopa County sheriff’s office said.
The girl told authorities her grandfather gave her instructions to “shoot any bad guys” before leaving her to fend for herself. Rater has been charged with two counts of felony child abuse and one of felony child endangerment.
The girl was reported missing Sunday evening and eventually found in the desert by her mother and an off-duty firefighter.
[Reuters]
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com