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Alabama Hostage Situation Is Over; Boy Is Safe
February 4, 2013
About a week after it began, a hostage situation in an underground bunker in Midland City, Ala., is over.
The 5-year old boy that had been held hostage since he was abducted from his school bus is in good condition and is under observation at at local hospital.
Hostage taker Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, is dead, according to the FBI. Authorities entered the bunker and rescued the child after Dykes was observed with a gun and negotiations “deteriorated”, according to Steve Richardson with the FBI’s office in Mobile. Authorities feared the boy was in imminent danger.
Dykes gunned down a school bus driver last Tuesday and abducted a 5-year-old boy from the bus before taking him to an underground bunker on his rural property. The driver, 66-year-old Charles Poland Jr., was buried Sunday.
Comments
8 Responses to “Alabama Hostage Situation Is Over; Boy Is Safe”
Thank the Lord the child is safe.
Prayers for Mr Polands family, he was an exemplifier of selflessness and duty. Prayers also for Mr Dyke’s family.
Great Job LE.
So glad he’s safe!!!!
I’m confused though. He was observed with a gun so they ambushed him. Wouldn’t it have been safe to assume he had a weapon all along since he had already shot and killed the bus driver?
Why didn’t they do this sooner?
Great work on the part of all LEOs. I pray for all the families affected by this tragedy. I am sure Mr. Poland is looking down from heaven and thankful the boy is safe and with his family. Thank you to all our bus drivers and education faculty for the work you do.
Thank you God for answering many prayers
I am honestly ashamed of myself
Even tho I prayed every day for this situation, I thought after 7 days, there was a better than average chance that Mr. Dykes wouldn’t allow the child out of that underground bunker alive! I am SO happy that I was wrong!
I hope the Lord will forgive me for the doubt I let into my heart. I do believe in the power of prayer and I know there were ppl from all over the world praying for this family and the Poland family.
I will continue to pray for them and hope that little Ethan will be able to overcome this trauma through the grace of our sweet Lord Jesus.
Thank you Lord
AMEN!
Thank you Jesus for answering prayers.
So glad to hear that this precious little boy is safe. Praying for him and his family. Thank GOD for watching over him and keeping him safe.