Prayers Answered: 5-year-old Rescued Safely from Kidnapper, Bus Driver "hailed as a hero"

Aimee Herd : Feb 5, 2013
CNN.com

"We will all continue to pray for the little boy and his family as they recover from the trauma of the last several days." -Alabama Governor Robert Bentley

(Midland City, Alabama)?Many were breathing a sigh of relief on Monday, as 5-year-old Ethan?taken hostage by Jimmy Lee Dykes (66) and held for the past seven days?was rescued by FBI agents after they stormed the underground bunker Dykes was holding him in.

After negotiations were said to have broken down between the FBI and Dykes, it was determined that the boy's life was in "imminent danger." On Monday afternoon, neighbors described hearing an explosion and shots fired near the bunker; moments later the kidnapper was dead and Ethan was being whisked away to a hospital for examination. (Photo: Church that was ground zero for FBI operations while the boy was held hostage/CNN.com)

Later Monday night, Ethan?who has Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit disorder?was reportedly fine, and safe with his family, "laughing, joking, playing and eating," said FBI Special Agent Steve Richardson.

Fliers had been posted throughout Midland City calling for prayer for Ethan's safe return, and on Monday, a woman was said to have been praying in the town center prior to the rescue. A city clerk who had observed her noted later, "She must have had a direct line to God because shortly after she left, they heard the news."

Bus Driver a Hero
Dykes had entered a school bus on Tuesday, January 29th, demanding that the bus driver, Charles Albert Poland Jr., hand over two of the children. Poland refused, according to a CNN report, and blocked the aisle so 21 of the kids could escape out the emergency exit in the back of the vehicle, until he was shot and killed by Dykes. Dykes then grabbed the kindergartener and headed for the nearby bunker. (Photo: School buses with black ribbons lined the route to the funeral/CNN.com)

FOX News reported that over 500 people paid tribute to bus driver Charles Poland at his funeral on Sunday, he was "hailed as a hero" for protecting the children and ultimately giving his life for them.

Several of the students on his bus wrote letters that were read at the service. One of them read: "You didn't deserve to die but you died knowing you kept everyone safe."