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UPDATED: Boy Held in Week-Long Alabama Hostage Standoff Rescued, Suspect Dead

Feb. 4, 2013 5:19pm Jason Howerton

Boy Held in Week Long Alabama Hostage Standoff Released Alive, Source Says

Members of the FBI team wait, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, in Midland City, Ala. Authorities said they still have an open line of communication with an Alabama man accused of abducting a 5-year-old child and holding him hostage in a bunker since Tuesday, Jan. 29. Sheriff Wally Olson said Saturday that Jimmy Lee Dykes has told them that he has blankets and an electric heater in the bunker. Credit: AP

MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) — Authorities stormed an underground bunker Monday in Alabama, freeing a 5-year-old boy and leaving his increasingly agitated captor dead after a week of fruitless negotiations that left authorities convinced the child was in imminent danger.

Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, had taken the child off a school bus after fatally shooting the driver. He was known by neighbors for his anti-government rants and for patrolling his property with a gun, ready to shoot trespassers. He had stayed for several days in the tiny bunker before.

“He always said he’d never be taken alive. I knew he’d never come out of there,” said an acquaintance, Roger Arnold.

Dykes had been seen with a gun, and officers concluded the boy was in imminent danger, said Steve Richardson of the FBI’s office in Mobile. It was not immediately clear how authorities determined the man had a gun, or exactly how Dykes died.

Late Monday, officers were sweeping the property to make sure Dykes had not set up any bombs that could detonate. Full details of the bunker raid had not yet emerged. However, neighbors described hearing what sounded like gunshots around the time officials said they entered the shelter.

Michael Senn, pastor of a church near where reporters had been camped out since the standoff began, said he was relieved the child had been taken to safety. However, he also recalled the bus driver, Charles Albert Poland Jr., who had been hailed as a hero for protecting nearly two dozen other children on the bus before being shot by Dykes.

“As we rejoice tonight for (the boy) and his family, we still have a great emptiness in our community because a great man was lost in this whole ordeal,” Senn said.

The rescue capped a long drama that drew national attention to this town of 2,400 people nestled amid peanut farms and cotton fields that has long relied on a strong Christian faith, a policy of “love thy neighbor” and the power of group prayer. The child’s plight prompted nightly candlelight vigils.

Throughout the ordeal, authorities had been speaking with Dykes though a plastic pipe that went into the shelter. They also sent food, medicine and other items into the bunker, which apparently had running water, heat and cable television but no toilet. It was about 4 feet underground, with about 50 square feet of floor space.

Authorities said the kindergartner appeared unharmed. He was taken to a hospital in nearby Dothan. Officials have said he has Asperger’s syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

This photograph released by the Alabama Department of Public Safety shows Jimmy Lee Dykes, a 65-year-old retired truck driver officials identify as the suspect in a fatal shooting and hostage standoff in Midland City, Ala. Credit: AP

Melissa Knighton, city clerk in Midland City, said a woman had been praying in the town center Monday afternoon. Not long after, the mayor called with news that Dykes was dead and that the boy was safe.

“She must have had a direct line to God because shortly after she left, they heard the news,” Knighton said.

Neighbors described Dykes as a menacing, unpredictable man who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe. Government records indicate he served in the Navy from 1964 to 1969, earning several awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

He had some scrapes with the law in Florida, including a 1995 arrest for improper exhibition of a weapon. The misdemeanor was dismissed. He also was arrested for marijuana possession in 2000.

He returned to Alabama about two years ago, moving onto the rural tract about 100 yards from his nearest neighbors.

Arnold recalled that, for a time, Dykes lived in his pickup truck in the parking lot of the apartment complex where Dykes’ sister lived. He would stay warm by building a fire in a can on the floorboard and kept boxes of letters he wrote to the president and the unspecified head of the mafia, Arnold said.

Dykes believed the government had control of many things, including a dog track he frequented in the Florida Panhandle. Arnold said that Dykes believed if a dog was getting too far ahead and wasn’t supposed to win, the government would shock it.

Ronda Wilbur, a neighbor of Dykes who said the man beat her dog to death last year with a pipe, said she was relieved to be done with the stress of knowing Dykes was patrolling his yard and willing to shoot at anyone or anything that trespassed.

“The nightmare is over,” she said. “It’s been a long couple of years of having constant stress.”

This story has been updated.

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Comments (110)

Bill Wallace
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 3:47pm
I hate being lied to, and while I am glad the perp is dead, the FBI is lying, and nobody is asking the questions.

The FBI reports that, after 5 days of a standoff, they took action on learning the perp had a gun and the child was potentially in danger.

You mean to tell me that, this perp shot a bus driver, then kidnapped a kid, went into a bunker, and 5 days later the FBI figured out he had a gun?

How the hell did he shoot and kill a bus driver? Spitball?

The FBI knew from day 1 that the dude had a gun. And they knew the kid was at risk because the kidnapper already killed a person, and was unstable. THat is an automatic danger.

So why then, after 5 days, did they make the call. Don’t tell me it was a gun. They already knew.

Time to get real answers.

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THX-1138
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 10:24am
This entire ordeal could and SHOULD have been prevented by an armed bus driver. But that’s the one message on which no one in the Media will ever focus.

I just wish the Driver had survived to see that child was safe. Then again, maybe he did see it. Let’s hope so…

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:13am
Now, I am interested in how it went down! Did two FBI Agents snatch the entrance door open, and a 3rd stood above the steps to take down a startled Dykes down? Good job, regardless!

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- watashbuddyfriend
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:22am
  From al.com: So this is how it went down: From CBS “…(So) they created an opportunity to bring (Dykes) to that door to accept (a) delivery. Then they threw in the distraction devices, or what are commonly called by SWAT teams ‘flash bangs.’ They made a blindingly bright light, and a huge, big noise that is very disorienting.
  
  “And then a very small entry team – and this would be three, no more than four hostage rescue team members – went in there, engaged Dykes, killed him and then rescued the boy. And this probably took seconds.”"
  
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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:10am
Now, Melissa Knighton, and others “…in Midland City, …praying in the town center Monday afternoon. Not long after, the mayor called with news that Dykes was dead and that the boy was safe….” don’t get carried away o\with this, as God does not operate that way!

“She must have had a direct line to God because shortly after she left, they heard the news,” Knighton said.

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mcdaris324
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 7:23am
Wasn’t he going to release the kid if he was alowed to talk to the media. This question was asked at the press conference. Along with why is the family not alowed to talk with the Media. these questions were never answered

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Trenaway
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 4:43am
You know this was a tragic event but I love how the AP makes a political statement in the second paragraph of the story. He was known for his anti-government rants and patrolling his property with a gun. So in other words, see those crazy anti-government nutjobs who have guns. That is why we need gun control! SO in one full swoop they try to generalize all anti-government people who own guns as dangerous! Stupid AP!

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sasquatch08
Posted on February 5, 2013 at 4:03am
Good to hear the kid is safe.

I’m with Mil-Dot on this one tho, why so many cops?

I’m not paranoid about police, but I feel like a lot of what we’ve seen recently is complete and total overkill.

I can understand having a SWAT team of 20 people, maybe as many as a hundred in a place like LA, where you might need multiple teams at the same time. But having this many people show up for one guy, who’s TRAPPED IN A HOLE IN THE GROUND seems insane.

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- Bluedog78
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 11:53pm
  Ha ha, I have an idea, when your kid gets kidnapped by a crazy killer why don’t you call mil dot instead of the FBI HRT to run the operation since he’s such a great swat leader?? LOL!!
  
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WINNEBAGOMAN
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 11:57pm
When bad people, like this loon, create situations such as these, one can only hope for such an outcome. Let me explain: What’s done, is done. Ol’ crazy had a beef with the government, but decided to kill a 65 year old bus driver and kidnap a disabled 5 year old? That’ll teach the government a lesson, won’t it?

So the local police storm the “bunker” (I’d like to see or get a description of this structure), killing Ol’ crazy and saving the kid. My hat off to the Police!!! Perfect ending. The kid will already be traumatized and now he won’t have to re-live it in a trial for this kook!

Again, because it can’t be said enough, well done!

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TemperBay
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 11:17pm
I must have missed this somewhere along the line – but – under what authority was the FBI operating in all of this. I fail to see where this became a Federal matter. Secondly, having worked beside the FBI for decades I damn’d sure wouldn’t want these cowboy clowns anywhere around if my kid had been in this situation. That this child survived I consider a minor miracle. Too, I wonder how he’s going to handle watching a man die right in front of him? Our prayers need be with him.

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- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:05pm
  The FBI should only assume jusridiction if a kidnap event crosses state lines. They have this power under the Lindberg Law (Federal Kidnapping Act 18 U.S.C. § 1201).
  
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justasurvivor
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 11:12pm
Why in the world is this NOT the biggest, #1 story on every news site everywhere? Beyonce, really? The superbowl can’t compare to the agony this child and his parents have been through for almost a week – we’ve been praying and praying. And this story is buried down the page??????

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msjoe43
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:33pm
Waiting for “the feel-good legislation” propose by the elitist Democrats. “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste. And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.”

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FaithfulFriend
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:01pm
Ron Paul just tweeted that he’s going to take the victim paragliding in a couple of weeks as doing so doesn’t conflict with his sensibilities, or lack thereof.

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Ponyexpress
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:52pm
Easy to say without having any facts, but we do know they had a 3″ PVC pipe they could send stuff to the pair. Maybe some sedating gas would have been sufficient rather than 75 heavily armed whomevers, that would not have fit in the bunker anyway, to kill the old fart.
Just sayin

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honkytonkman
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:48pm
Would it not have been less risky to send in the sandman first and pipe nitrous oxide into the bunker ?
I never have understood the large congregations of law enforcement officials at crime scenes such as this, unless it is to simply send the message to other potential “offenders”………Oh well the pos has assumed room temperature and hopefully the boy will have a complete recovery.

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FloridaFarmGirl
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:02pm
Thank God this little boy is alive!! My thoughts and prayers are with him and his parents. I can’t imagine what this nightmare has been like for all of them. Good news also that this perverted madman was killed. Good day for America!!

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Kathleen3
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 8:34pm
Our government and organizations such as the ACLU, and the National Institute of Mental Health should be held responsible for the deaths that occur in this country as a result of their demands that mentally ill people such as Dykes be allowed to freely roam our country and endanger the lives of those who are not mentally ill.

There is nothing noble or dignified in allowing people who are in need of in-patient treatment to roam the streets or live in seclusion until such time as they are shot dead by a SWAT team attempting to save innocent victims from the mentally ill person.

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DefyTYRANNY
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 8:23pm
Well, if the guy killed someone as reported and kidnapped a kid and all, he got what he deserved.

I find it funny about the patrolling his property with a flashlight and firearm comment. Sounds like a normal night here when my wife hears or sees something outside. If I think there are possibly trespassers with ill intent out there (again) add body armor. Crazy stuff.

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barber2
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:46pm
Mental health issues at the core of this and the last awful gun tragedy , but the Democrats will focus on the guns. Why ?

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- Marine25
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 8:50pm
  Mental illness? He did have a history of listening to a lot of conservative talk radio.
  
  So says FOX News
  http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/04/alabama-standoff-enters-third-day-as-official-says-child-held-hostage/
  
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- barber2
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:21pm
  MARINE: So Fox is the cause ? No, dearie, the guy had mental problems . He could also have listened to CNN or any of the other MSM. BUT, your comment sounds so familiar : Blame Bush. Blame the cops. Blame capitalism. Blame the kitchen sink…
  
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- Marine25
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 9:42am
  I didn’t say FOX was the cause, I said FOX was my source on the fact that he listened non-stop to conservative talk radio, I posted the FOX link.
  
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skippy6
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:22pm
Neighbors described Dykes as a man who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe…that alone ****** me off…….

Good outcome, nevertheless why can’t these people commit suicide in the garage with the door shut with a rope…That poor child will be scarred for life you can bet.

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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:54pm
  Yeah, piping the dog was def a bad scene. The guy was mental because of the Viet war for sure. I am just curious, where were you when he was being subjected to mortar attacks in Da Nang? Huh? Where the hell were you? All soldiers deserve respect. Even those that lost their way.
  
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jackact
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:20pm
Thank God.
We can only hope that this innocent will be able to move on?
Say a prayer for this family.
They need it America.

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gayelisby
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:19pm
No one can say for sure what triggered 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes to murder the school bus driver and snatch the innocent kindergartner from his school bus. Now that the abductor is dead, authorities may never know Dykes full intentions, or his motivations.

But, its a sure bet he is going to be hailed as hero, no matter the competent actions of the law enforcement community. It will be a testimony to the God-given resiliency of children that his prognosis for a normal, healthy life can still be good.

Parents, teachers and counselors will be called upon to support the child in ways they have never had to before–and so they should in order that chaos does not develop in his mind, will or emotions.

Five-year-olds cannot fully comprehend or appreciate dangers they face, but with 24/7 loving affirmations, a firm foundation will be built in him so that he can overcome the tremors he will face as he grows and begins to fully understand what happened. He will need to refresh and revisit the situation through differing life-stages as he filters the events through his life experiences. That is where having 24/7 loving affirmations will create a solid foundation in his own soul.

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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:50pm
  Gay,
  Really? He is going to be touted as a hero? By fricking whom? Nobody is saying he is a hero. He was a mentally ill old man that served his country during the Vietnam war. A guy that suffered hardship undoubtedly and was mentally affected by it. War does freaky things to people. It is not fun to kill people or to see dead enemy. It is horrifying. Does he not deserve any sympathy whatsoever? So please with the crap about people calling him a hero. It is a tragedy.
  
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lisalake
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:15pm
Alabama authorities now patting themselves on the back for a job well done…. even though this nut-job was well know for terrorizing his neighbors; and nothing was done! And we need MORE laws on the books for gun “control”????? Law enforcement did nothing about this guy! And notice how Newtown, oBozo, Giffords, celebrities and football players poured out their love and ribbons, and treasure.. to reach out to this hero bus drivers’ family???? NOT…. doesn’t fit the agenda.

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TrueConserv
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:04pm
Good to hear the child is safe. Question! Did the officers who saved the child use firearms that are only made to kill people or did they use the ones that keep people safe ? Just Wondering……

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ICSPADES
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:02pm
Everybody saying so much about a man they knew so little about. I am thankful he treated this little boy humanly and at least gave him the necessities he needed. He will no longer have to live the life with out mental help anymore. So many roaming our streets and the Government put them out here on the streets.So by all means thank a politician for all the killing going on. Those chickens are coming home to roost.

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- searching for the Truth
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 7:40pm
  Did you realize that when the first movie studio was built in Hollywood that it was directly across from a Chicken Farm – sometimes even evil has a little fact.
  
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searching for the Truth
Posted on February 4, 2013 at 6:52pm
Hm. So he had past drug violations – worried perhaps he would eventually lose his gun rights,and went ballistic – wonder how many presidential candidates had past priors – wonder if that is why Fienstein wants exclusivity in her Bill for officials to garner support ?

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- ledbythnose
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 8:10pm
  You bring up an interesting point. This Fellow that calls himself Obama admitted in his book that he had smoked a LOT OF WEED and snorted a LOT OF COKE so he is an admitted Felon. Not to mention he advocates the murder of millions of Babies in the Womb . He has murdered American Citizens with Drone attacks. He is using a stolen SS number and presented a Forged Birth Certificate to the American People on live TV. All of these are Felonies according the LAWS on the books in this Nation. Yet he proudly posted a picture of his bad self shooting a weapon with the help of the entire White House Staff to prove he is fact a proud Felon. So who will arrest this admitted Felon? A picture is worth a million bucks when used as evidence. Any takers? Just sayin.
  
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- RedHarley
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 8:29pm
  I won’t go as far as calling the SWAT guys goons………yet.
  It does bother me that we are militarizing our police and then to have a undisclosed number of Homeland Security people that I have no idea what they are supposedly doing, but it does take me back to Obama’s civilian security force as well funded as the military. For what ? DHS has far too much ammo on order, and it is not training ammo. Keep a close eye on this stuff folks.
  As far as this dude he got what he deserved, and glad the kid is ok.
  
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- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 8:34pm
  not too fast ledbythenose… Bush did coke too… Oh and also had a DUI on record.
  
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- ledbythnose
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 9:00pm
  So Keaton using your logic we must go and arrest Bush too? You had your chance when he was a sitting POTUS . Why didn’t you personally take it? I am talking about a Man who is a known Felon RIGHT NOW big boy. BIG DIFFERENCE ! DUH! Silence is consent … My point is simple. This Government is COMPLETELY DISS FUNCTIONAL. It has been for at least 100 years. You can’t have it both ways. The Frog never drinks up the water from the Pond it lives in. Just sayin.LOL
  
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- 1947
  Posted on February 4, 2013 at 10:56pm
  Leave it to the FBI “take NO one alive”
  
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- American Soldier (Separated)
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 12:36am
  He is not a known felon, or any other kind of felon. A felon has been convicted of the crime.
  
  I’m sure you’ve stolen SOMETHING in your life, ran a red light on purpose, hell even accidental?
  
  Well, guess you’re a FELON or at least a CRIMINAL!
  
  That’s basically your logic in calling Obama a felon. I admit to have stolen my dads car back when I was 15, he was out of town and I wanted to look cool to my friends. Stayed in a one piece, dad came home, didn’t have a clue. The fact that I admit to this theft, does that make me a felon for grand theft?
  
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- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on February 5, 2013 at 8:45am
  For those of you that think we don’t live in a Police State – Look at the photo people ! Dozens of Police all dressed as soldiers ( in full battle gear ) yes my friends – your government now controls your every move !
  
  Give me Liberty or Give me Death !
  
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