It could have been accidental.
Back in 2003, I had just bought a new car. Within a day, I had locked myself out of it 2 times by accident.
Auto locks. My GMCs both would lock the doors after a minute or two if I stepped out to put gas in. I disabled that function 'cause I got locked out more than once.
Indeed, my 2005 Town and Country does the same thing [auto locks the doors] drivers door unlocks when I get out
I immediately got in the habit of locking the van with the key fob, not the door switch because I am otherwise apt to lock my keys in the car ....
I also discovered the PO had stashed a key in a lock box on the car somewhere ... it will not start the engine [microchipped key needed for that]
but it will open the door
the article said she was getting the child out of the back ....
- so open all doors, hop out open back door, remove child
- use key fob to lock car after all doors are secure