FBI: Officers stormed bunker when child in danger
MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) - Officers stormed an underground bunker in Alabama where a 5-year-old boy had been held hostage for nearly a week, rescuing the child and leaving the boy's abductor dead, officials said Monday.
Steve Richardson with the FBI's office in Mobile said at a news conference Monday afternoon that negotiations had deteriorated with 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes, a man neighbors described as an isolated loner. Dykes had been seen with a gun, and officers believed the boy was in imminent danger, Richardson said.
Officers stormed the bunker just after 3 p.m. CST to rescue the child, who was taken to a hospital in nearby Dothan. Officials have said the child has Asperger's syndrome.
However, it was not immediately clear how Dykes died.
Melissa Nighton, the city clerk in Midland City, said a woman had been praying in the town center Monday afternoon. Not long after, the mayor called her 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," Nighton said.
Neighbors described Dykes as a man who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property, and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm.
Government records and interviews with neighbors indicate that Dykes joined the Navy in Midland City, serving on active duty from 1964 to 1969. His record shows several awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. During his service, Dykes was trained in aviation maintenance.
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.
Steve Richardson with the FBI's office in Mobile said at a news conference Monday afternoon that negotiations had deteriorated with 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes, a man neighbors described as an isolated loner. Dykes had been seen with a gun, and officers believed the boy was in imminent danger, Richardson said.
Officers stormed the bunker just after 3 p.m. CST to rescue the child, who was taken to a hospital in nearby Dothan. Officials have said the child has Asperger's syndrome.
However, it was not immediately clear how Dykes died.
Melissa Nighton, the city clerk in Midland City, said a woman had been praying in the town center Monday afternoon. Not long after, the mayor called her 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," Nighton said.
Neighbors described Dykes as a man who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property, and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm.
Government records and interviews with neighbors indicate that Dykes joined the Navy in Midland City, serving on active duty from 1964 to 1969. His record shows several awards, including the Vietnam Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. During his service, Dykes was trained in aviation maintenance.
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.
What made this a federal case? Why did the FBI get involved?
@DarkParty kidnapping is a federal offense.
And more assaults on Veterans Gun Rights. All the same, however, while I believe in the 2nd Amendment, I do not condone crimes, especially against children. That this guy would do this is despicable in my eyes and I for one believe he got much better than he deserved. But according to the Police, he chose his fate by having a gun in hand. No consequence for taking a child, regardless of developmental disabilities. Good riddance.Â
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But, THIS WILL be cited by Government as "evidence" that U.S. Military Veterans are all criminally insane and undeserving of any rights whatsoever. In fact, we're to be considered as "Invalids". What sick, twisted people we have Lording over us. I'll never pick up another rifle for our Politicians again, I assure you that. They can go to hell.
 @PhunkyMunky you are making a strong case for pathological paranoia being classified as a gun-prohibiting disability... at least in your particular instance...
All is well that ends well. Hats off to all that worked to bring this to a very successful conclusion.
I hope this incident will not affect the child negatively in the future. Glad to see he is okay and safe.
So glad Ethan is ok and he is safely back with his parents.
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Good riddance to the violent whack job murderer.
...Neighbors described Dykes as a man who once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property, and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm...
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But at least the NRA fought tooth and nail for his right to bear arms...even though it is pretty clear looking at his background that this guy was a sandwich short of a picnic. Child terrorized for life and an innocent dead.
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YAY! No background checks - the system, errrrr...works?
 @Howard Beale So you know that the NRA defended this man specifically? Or are you ranting on about generalizations attempting to thread together a good story?
 @aintno1special Nice spin, specifically. The NRA doesn't supply lawyers. Broadly, they absolutely defended this man. He was already up on charges for a gun crime and yet still had his guns. Has a criminal history, a number of run in's with law enforcement and a history of mental illness.
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Hmmmmmmmm....
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Prior criminal record - check.
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History of mental problems - check.
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Current charged with a gun crime - check.
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The NRA has done a good job of fighting sane laws that would take guns from...
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People with criminal records
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People who are mentally ill
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And people charged with gun crime(s) while charged (to be returned in the event of a not-guilty finding after hearing)
 @Howard Beale Not at all a spin. I support part of what the NRA does, but not all.The fact that he has a criminal record and still has a gun is the NRA's fault? So the million or so other criminals that "own" guns is the NRA's fault too? Sounds a lot like the argument that the issue of the mass shootings is the tool used. A lot of displaced blame.
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I think the amassing of records of every gun owner into a centralized database is a tricky situation. The powers that be have a credibility issue, when it comes to ethical use of information. I don't think it paranoid to think that in the wrong hands this kind of information could be misused greatly, and I think that is why the push to prevent it. That said without this information it is difficult to control each and every gun.
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I don't think the NRA or any rational person would defend a felons right to own a gun, or for that matter someone who is classified as mentally unstable. I think the spinning of the NRA defending a ruling to say they are protecting felons and crazies is what you are doing.
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"And people charged with gun crime(s) while charged (to be returned in the event of a not-guilty finding after hearing)"...not sure how this one fits into the mix. People found not guilty are not criminals, and therefore should not be penalized.
 @Howard Beale Oh what the hell!!! Why don't you idiots realize that A CRIMINAL IS A CRIMINAL, GUN LAWS ARE TO PUNISH LAW ABIDING!! You think someone doing crimes cares about gun laws?? Or does not matter to you morons. It is people like YOU and your ilk that have utterly DESTROYED this Country!! I know you're smug about it, too, so my pointing any of this out is completely pointless.Â
 @PhunkyMunky  @Howard Beale ..."GUN LAWS ARE TO PUNISH LAW ABIDING!!"..
Then explain what category the tens of thousands that fail to acquire a gun legally by being denied through the very inefficient current background checks fall into?
 @Mark DuPriest   A Criminal plain & simple. I don't expect you to understand how this applies to a person who fails to comply w/ the current laws around either purchasing, obtaining or carrying a gun. A Criminal does not care what the law is, nor will they going forward. Laws only apply to those that abide by them; you and me. Unless you're a Criminal? New firearm laws are going to change the mind of a thief or gangbanger? What say you?
 @PhunkyMunky  @Howard Beale "GUN LAWS ARE TO PUNISH LAW ABIDING!! "
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yep. Â just like speed limits punish those who drive the speed limit... uh huh... right.....
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that's a big fat logic fail.....Â
 @Howard Beale (insert the sound bite for adults speaking in the Peanuts gang skits)  Wha, wha, Wha, wha... wha...  perhaps he was baked on marijuana?  < that would make him some freakin' pot-head Liberal right?  Move on Howard...
Wow! With that past, I'm glad that (expletive of your choice) is dead! He's dead and the child is safe! Definitely a great outcome!
another crazy nra gun member gone completely over the edge....
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Alabama, bunker, survivalist, lots of guns, hmmm wonder if he voted republican or democrat....
 @sunnysandiego since your big on the gun owners, remember that guy who had a bomb factory in his house in san diego? wonder if he was a democrat?
 @sunnysandiego What makes you think he was a "Right Winger"? What if he was an Independent? Or Democrat? I guess only a Republican can commit crimes of any sort. This is such an utterly stupid comment that I'm going to use it as an example of a complete lack of logic.Â
 @sunnysandiego Classy!  So long as we clearly know that your IQ does not extend beyond: anyone who carries firearm, commits a crime with a firearm is a NRA loving nutjob.  Does that apply to the gangbangers in Chicago too?  You certainly do not disappoint... no value added content.
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 @sunnysandiego what part of him hating the government did you miss? and you know he was part of the NRA, funny that wasn't on the news. but, of course, you are just saying what you normally say.
Good outcome.
Considering the circumstances, I thought the worst admittedly. What a relief! Nice work!
I am glad this story had as happy ending as it could of. This poor boy will need a lot of help in the future, but he is alive and now safe. Good job to all the people involved in this "rescue".
The photo has what to do with this story exactly? Very creative or...something.
 @PilonidalCyst The hostage-taker killed the school bus driver mentioned in the caption, who was trying to protect the children on the bus.
If there was ever a guy who needed killin', it was this jerk. Good job officers, and get that boy and his family some help.
A professional job and safe child to show for it.
Done and done.
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Well done FBI!
Not sure why they couldn't have gassed the bunker through the vent system with a quick knock-out gas early on. Maybe they were worried the guy would notice and shoot before he passed out or that the guy had an oxygen rig or there was another vent hole or something.Â
 @NW-Economist that only works in Three Stooges movies...
 @NW-Economist there is no knock out gas, what the russians used was fentanyl.
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 @TruthinAdverts Better than sitting around helpless waiting for the criminal to decide when to kill...
 @NW-Economist they actually discussed it in one of the articles, and decided to leave it alone.
 @NW-Economist I would guess the dose required to work on the adult may be lethal to the 5yo boy? Or at the very least some how toxic.
@aintno1special @NW-Economist Or maybe the things that work in Hollywood and in comic books don't allways translate to real life.
 @what?  @aintno1special I believe the Russians have used gas in hostage situations. I think there were complications, but it's reality.
 @what?  @aintno1special Yeah in the meantime keep living life helpless, one day south seattle won't spit you back out after it chews you up.Â
Awesome job, FBI.
GOOD! Best outcome imaginable from this horrible scenario. Time for the family to heal now.
So glad for a happy ending to this story, I was really worried the boy wouldn't make it. Having children myself I can only imagine the joy his parents are feeling right now.
So happy the little guy is safe. His life will never be the same but he is alive at least. Ding dong the psycho is dead! Fine by me.Â