Who would think that a pizza app could save lives? Most often these apps are used to order pizza from this or that company and allow you to pick your size, crust, and toppings. The app also allows you to add special instructions and comments to the employees making your pizza. It was this feature that helped save the lives of a Florida mom and her three kids.
A Morning Turned Bad
It all started with an order to Pizza Hut using the company’s mobile app. Cheryl Treadway and her kids were in danger from her boyfriend at the time, Ethan Nickerson. After arguing for most of the morning at their Avon Park, Florida home, Ethan had pulled a large knife on Cheryl and took away her phone, isolating her from others. Thinking quickly, she soon came up with a plan.
Things Get Dangerous
Initially, Cheryl’s children were in school. She used this to get Ethan to let her leave their home where he had been keeping her locked up since the altercation began. She convinced him to let her leave the house to pick up the kids. She was able to do this, but there was one catch, he insisted on going with her.
A Worse Situation
Now, with her kids also trapped in their home with a knife-wielding maniac, Cheryl had to come up with a new plan. That is when an idea hit her. Telling Ethan that the kids were hungry, she convinced him to give her phone back to her so she could order pizza. initially, he was reluctant, but he handed her the phone, but he insisted that she use the Pizza Hut app to order the pizza, probably to keep her calling for help.
A Desperate Message
Phone in hand, she ordered the pizza for the family. She also added some comments in the comment section and special instructions. In the comments section she wrote, “Please help. Get 911 to me. 911 hostage help!” She gave her phone back to her husband. Now, all she could do was wait.
The Pizza Hut Employees Step Up to the Plate
As soon as Cheryl’s order came in, the employees at the local Pizza Hut knew something was up. They called over the location’s manager, Candy Hamilton. What she saw was something she had never seen before in her job at the restaurant. As a matter of fact, Candy even recognized the number and knew it wasn’t some kind of joke.
Calling Law Enforcement
Without wasting time, Candy called the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office and told them about what was going on. Soon, they were on their way to the home. Their arrival brought relief to Cheryl, who had been waiting with trepidation, not even knowing if her message had gotten through.
Soon, Cheryl had taken the bold move of grabbing her youngest and rushing outside to meet the police. She told them that her other two children were still inside with her knife-wielding boyfriend. Luckily, one of the officers was the lead negotiator on the department’s crisis team.
Twenty minutes later and he had convinced Ethan to drop his knife and surrender. Everyone was unharmed; mostly thanks to Cheryl’s quick thinking, but also due to the Pizza Hut manager’s quick action once she received the call for help. Here is more on this amazing story of survival.
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