Here’s some badly needed good news. The 5-year-old boy who was held hostage in an underground bunker in Midland City, Ala., is alive and well and free tonight. His captor, 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes, who murdered a school bus driver last week, was killed. A relatively happy ending to the seven-day standoff that captivated the nation lit up Twitter.
PHOTO: Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson briefing the press on the end of the Alabama hostage standoff pic.twitter.com/2R6OWqR2
— Mike Hayes (@michaelhayes) February 4, 2013
#Ethan is SAFE! #hostagestandoff is over. Jimmy Lee Dykes is deceased. pic.twitter.com/EUBoVcYt
— WDHN (@WDHN) February 4, 2013
The little boy who was being held hostage is finally free! pic.twitter.com/0EZjg3pb
— Sharon (@SBroadie) February 4, 2013
County in which little boy had been held hostage asked for prayers. pic.twitter.com/4lyhycFJ
— Laura Martinez (@laurabrmartinez) February 4, 2013
Thank God Ethan is alive and free! #midlandcity #Alabama pic.twitter.com/c0MxB0op
— Kim Williamson (@Kiwialabama) February 4, 2013
https://twitter.com/Bama_Belle10/status/298568364857643008
https://twitter.com/PePsGrasso/status/298557655054708737
Retweet this great story. Ala. child hostage standoff ends after 7 days http://t.co/o2f6J2d6 #WAFF48GoodNews pic.twitter.com/k5vrBywM
— WAFF 48 (@waff48) February 4, 2013
Many took the news as an opportunity to give thanks and offer prayers.
https://twitter.com/ricklance/status/298586970119077888
ethan is out and free in the big city of midland city alabama!
— maci english (@macikendall) February 5, 2013
Thankful that the Midland City Crisis is over and Ethan is safe. Thank you law enforcement and local officials for your hard work.
— Luther Strange (@lutherstrange) February 4, 2013
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#MidlandCity There are 10,000 things that could have happened. It took a precise plan to raid successfully. Again, brilliant work today.
— Ben Stanfield (@Ben_Stanfield) February 4, 2013
The hostage, known only as “Ethan,” was taken to a hospital for treatment but was said to be uninjured. He will celebrate his birthday on Wednesday.
Good News! 5 year old Ethan will be home for his birthday… Alabama kidnapper dead… Little boy is OK!!!
— Vinnie Politan (@VinniePolitan) February 4, 2013
https://twitter.com/jencook80/status/298582613151596545
Thank you Lord for prayers answered! What a wonderful birthday present for little Ethan!
— Teresa Terry Reeves (@mommatree) February 4, 2013
Ethan is out and safe…awesome birthday present #GodIsGood
— Tyler Friesen (@jtfriesen4) February 4, 2013
https://twitter.com/whitttpaige/status/298561003241762816
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