Bus Driver Saves 3-Year Old Wandering In Road; Two Arrested After Child Found Living In Squalor

October 29, 2013

[Updated 1 p.m.] An Escambia County School District bus driver is being credited with saving a young boy wandering along in the middle of Kingsfield Road Monday morning. And two people were arrested in connection with the incident after it was discovered the child had been living in squalor.

Bus driver Daisy Robinson, her bus 1-12 loaded with Ransom Middle School students, found the child in Kingsfield Road in the area of Pauline Street and the railroad tracks, just off Highway 95A. She managed to safely coach the 3-year old onto her bus and radio bus dispatch for help, according to Rob Doss, the Escambia County School District’s director of transportation.

After waiting for a short time period, she moved her bus to the parking lot of a nearby gas station to wait for the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office to arrive. The young boy was not injured.

Two people were arrested in connection with the incident.

Cynthia Faye Godwin, 36, and Michael Roy Godwin, 27, were both taken into custody and charged with child neglect. When booked into the county jail, Cynthia Godwin provided a home address on Pauline Street, a few hundred  feet from where the young boy was found.

At the child’s home, deputies found the Godwins outside searching for him, stating that he had walking about about 30 minutes before. Once inside the trailer, a responding deputy reported, “the smell was horrible and the conditions appeared even worse”, according to arrest report.

The deputy reported there were roaches crawling on the floor and counters. There were no drinks or food in the refrigerator or  freezer. The refrigerator contained dead roaches, according to the arrest report. The house was in a mess with clothing covering the floors. The three mattresses in the house for the child were very dirty and stained; one of these had dog feces on it.

Comments

39 Responses to “Bus Driver Saves 3-Year Old Wandering In Road; Two Arrested After Child Found Living In Squalor”

  1. Steve on November 2nd, 2013 9:18 am

    Mrs. Robinson–you have truely done angels work by saving this little boy. By the looks of all the posts, the community is very thankful to you. It’s heart warming to hear great things about caring citizens.

    For the parents–you don’t need to be rich to have pride. There is no reason to live at such standards, especially when you have children to care for. Have some pride, clean up your act, get educated and get help.

  2. So sad on November 1st, 2013 7:47 am

    @kids father…..If you truly love your child, then you should want the best for him. It doesn’t matter how little you have, you can clean & provide a better environment for your son. I pray you get all your ducks in a row if you do get him back, because the next time you mess up&this 3yr old innocent child is put in danger again…..Ms. Daisy may not be there to save him!

  3. lillie thomas on October 31st, 2013 2:17 pm

    Awesome job Daisy! Thank God you were there.

  4. David on October 31st, 2013 10:02 am

    Good job Daisey, but also lets let a little credit to God for leading her.

  5. kids father on October 31st, 2013 2:13 am

    I love my kids to death. Somepeople dont know us but think you to the busdriver

  6. Andy Walker on October 30th, 2013 1:28 pm

    Ol Boy running away at 3 yrs old?Tired of living like a mistreated dog.Cant blame the little man.God hooked this angel(Daisy) up with that boy.Great Story…Happy ending when these 2 lose all parental rights!

  7. Perry on October 30th, 2013 12:51 pm

    Way to go Ms. Robinson. I hope that the county and/or the school district recognize her for preventing something tragic from happening.

  8. DONNA LAMBETH on October 30th, 2013 10:29 am

    I am greatful for this bus driver as well. I hope that if my son ever wonders off, someone would help him as well. If these people get this child back, I hope that someone helps them with some parenting and whatever classes needed to make it better, As for the living conditions, if someone can post things on here that the family needs, maybe we all can pitch in and help them to have what they need as far as furniture and food. I just hope if they get him back it will be supervised enough to make sure the conditions do not stay the same.

  9. K.D. on October 30th, 2013 9:53 am

    Daisy, Good Lookin Out!!!!! You are a “Blessing” in a world gone mad….

    We need more people like you who pay attention and aren’t afraid to do the right thing, even when no one else is looking.
    I thank God for you,

    “Be Blessed”, K.D. for The Chariots of Pensacola

  10. yeahright on October 30th, 2013 3:31 am

    to srcitizen: don’t know where you get meth dealers get 5,000 bond but I have never seen one set that low here is an example of a recent bond.

    BOND SET AT $1,000 CASH OR PROFESSIONAL (POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA), $1,000 CASH OR PROFESSIONAL (DUI), $100,000 CASH OR PROFESSIONAL (COCAINE TRAFFIC), $25,000 CASH OR PROFESSIONAL (POSSESSION OF COCAINE), $7,500 CASH OR PROFESSIONAL (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE), AND $100,000 CASH OR PROFESSIONAL (AMPHETAMINE TRAFFIC)

    as you can see meth has the highest bond amount

  11. Maddie Gator on October 29th, 2013 9:14 pm

    I saw the boy it happen on my bus!!!! Sad :(

  12. qualisa on October 29th, 2013 9:05 pm

    Proud of you auntie :)

  13. Mark on October 29th, 2013 7:49 pm

    It’s been said many times, but is richly deserved, “Thank You Daisy!” You probably saved that boy’s life!

  14. Sabrina Delaney on October 29th, 2013 6:37 pm

    Thank God Daisy found this poor baby. The parents really should have reached out for help within the community. There’s no reason to subject a baby to those conditions at all.

  15. Paige R. on October 29th, 2013 5:38 pm

    I am so proud of my awesome bus driver Ms.Robinsion . I was there the whole time . she acted so brave.. thank u so much

  16. Sarah-Jane on October 29th, 2013 5:07 pm

    Thank you Ms Daisy…..you are a hero. So glad you took the time with your bus full to stop and look out for the little boy.

  17. glena mcneal on October 29th, 2013 5:02 pm

    I am so proud of my sister. Your love for the children in and out the community just keep keeps on showing . Love ya.

  18. Gator girl on October 29th, 2013 4:40 pm

    And the sad thing is they have not just one child but 3 who had to live in that horrible condition!!!! Sad people can do that to there kids!!!:(

  19. So sad on October 29th, 2013 1:43 pm

    I can not believe this little boy had to live in such conditions & has no one to care for him! I would take him in a second! Hope these ignorant people do not get him back & he gets a loving home!

  20. Regina on October 29th, 2013 12:01 pm

    Thank you so much Ms. Daisy Robinson for being so much more than just a bus driver. Escambia County drivers are the best drivers around. I’m so proud to call you one of our very own. Keep up the great work Escambia County school bus drivers!!!

  21. Michelle D on October 29th, 2013 11:41 am

    Thank God for this bus driver. This could have ended very badly. Cheers to you Ms. Robinson!

  22. Puddin on October 29th, 2013 11:13 am

    Way to go Daisy! Great job. Keep up the good work! Thanks for taking the time to stop and protect that baby. :-)

  23. Twanya Brass on October 29th, 2013 10:24 am

    Way to go Mom. I am so proud of you. Keep doing what you do. Love you.

  24. Billy D on October 29th, 2013 10:12 am

    kuddo’s to the bus driver for doing the right thing there. As for the no bond issue, the article states that furhter investigation is ongoing so there may be more to it than just the child neglect. Curious to see how this one irons out. Some folks just don’t deserve to have kids.

  25. Lars on October 29th, 2013 10:09 am

    Ah yes the meth dealers get a lower bond, but if these “parents” don’t get bond then the kid is “safe” in the custody of DCF.

    Good job Daisy, you can drive my kids anytime. :)

  26. Twanya Brass on October 29th, 2013 10:09 am

    I am so proud of you mom. Good job and keep doing what you do. Love you.

  27. srcitizen on October 29th, 2013 9:54 am

    No bond. That seems a little over the top seeing how meth dealers only get a 5000 bond.

  28. Kimberly Munro on October 29th, 2013 9:27 am

    I am so proud of you Daisy!! Now everybody knows what we have always known, You are an amazing woman. I am truely honored to call you my friend. I love you Chic!!

  29. Cassi on October 29th, 2013 8:11 am

    I praise Daisy Robinson for doing the right thing she is my sons bus driver

  30. Dennis HE Wiggins on October 29th, 2013 7:59 am

    I nominate Daisy Robinson for Citizen of the Year 2013!

  31. donnalee on October 29th, 2013 6:03 am

    Good job Daise! This is why I consider us Escambia County’s Finest!! We know we are more than ” JUST A BUS DRIVER”. Keep up the Great Job!! Love u girl

  32. Renea Daniel on October 29th, 2013 5:58 am

    Good job Mrs.Daisy,
    You make us proud to be Escanbia County School District bus drivers. We love our job & your actions today prove that! Way to go my friend ❤️

  33. Lynn Stone on October 29th, 2013 5:52 am

    So proud to work with u. Your such a blessing to all of us. Praise the lord he put you in thright place at the right time to watch out for his little ones. So super proud of you!! Contrary to what some people think, escambia county school bus drivers are well trained and always watching out for our community.

  34. Darlene Hart on October 29th, 2013 5:32 am

    Daisy,
    You are an angel not just in this incident but to everyone who comes into contact with you. I am so proud to work with you. Thank you for taking the time to stop. Thank you for being you.
    God Bless you,
    Darlene

  35. troubled on October 29th, 2013 4:22 am

    Way to go ! Hope kid is alright. And if parents were in the wrong I hope they get the book thrown at them. To have a kid just out and in a road is bad he could have been hurt bad.
    Me, just saying

  36. Freda Whaley on October 29th, 2013 4:20 am

    Good for you Daisy. Some people would have just kept driving but you have a heart for kids and I’m so proud of you.

  37. Anita on October 29th, 2013 3:50 am

    Way to go Daisy!! I’m so glad you’re a bus driver for our kids!!

  38. #blessmrsdaisy!! on October 29th, 2013 1:44 am

    WAY TO GO DAISY ROBINSON!!!! You were his Guardian Angel…..praise Jesus you were paying attention, it very easily could have gone the other way! I’m sure the parents of your students appreciate you too! Many blessing are coming your way!

  39. LeeAnna on October 29th, 2013 1:15 am

    So incredibly sad…