It’s hard to imagine being in a dire situation where you’re held hostage – especially with the safety of your children at stake.
Undoubtedly, it’s a scenario that requires quick thinking and calm nerves.
This was the reality for Cheryl Treadway, a 25-year-old mother in Florida, who found herself and her three children in a frightening situation with her boyfriend, Ethan Nickerson.
But interestingly enough, it was pizza that helped foil his plan.
On that fateful day, Cheryl was trapped in her home by Ethan, who was 26 at the time.
Armed with a knife, he refused to let her leave the house alone.
In a desperate attempt to ensure her children’s safety, Cheryl convinced Ethan to accompany her to pick them up from school.
Things were just getting started.
After returning home with her children, the situation escalated as Ethan held the family hostage.
Amidst this terrifying ordeal, Cheryl knew she had to act fast.
Seizing an opportunity, she convinced Ethan to let her use her phone, but only to order food for the kids.
The mom had a plan he didn’t see coming.
With her phone in hand, Cheryl turned to the Pizza Hut app.
She placed an order for pizza, but her real intention was far more critical.
In the comment section of the order, she discreetly wrote, “911 hostage help!”
To ensure her message was seen, she also added a plea for help in the customer name section.
“Please help. Get 911 to me”
Thankfully, the message didn’t go unnoticed.
Candy Hamilton, the manager at Pizza Hut, was stunned by the message.
“We’ve never seen that before,” she told WFLA.
The chef, Alonia Hawk, who first noticed the message, was immediately concerned for the person behind it.
She told 10News:
“I was kinda scared. I was scared for the person.”
Without hesitation, the Pizza Hut employees contacted 911.
The police quickly responded, arriving at Cheryl’s residence.
Ethan, realizing what had transpired, was initially reluctant to surrender, fearing arrest.
Cheryl, seizing the moment, exited the house with one of her children, informing the officers that Ethan was inside with the others.
After a tense 20-minute negotiation with a lieutenant, Ethan was persuaded to come out peacefully.
This allowed the officers to safely remove the remaining children from the house.
The situation was diffused without any harm to Cheryl or her children, thanks to her quick thinking and the responsive action of the Pizza Hut staff and police.
Although it was a heart-pumping situation, the mom was able to come up with a brilliant way to get help.
Cheryl’s ingenious use of a pizza order to send a covert distress signal undoubtedly saved her and her children from a potentially tragic outcome.
Thank goodness the story ended with the family being safe.
Watch the video below to hear more details about the mom’s brilliant move!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Source: YouTube – FOX 13 Tampa Bay, WFLA, CBC
