It’s fair to say that everyone has a favorite food. For some people it’s burgers and fries, for others it’s sushi, but for Kirk Alexander, there is nothing better than a pizza. He eats one almost every single day, and he only gets it from one specific company, Domino’s Pizza. Kirk is in his fifties and has never tired of eating the same pizza day in and day out. He is a slender man, so the high-fat pizza wasn’t affecting his waistline or his health. In a strange twist of fate, his obsession with the Italian staple dish actually saved his life.
A Lonely Guy
Over the years, Sarah and the team have gotten used to seeing the same names and orders come in via phone or online. They love having loyal customers who refuse to order from any other company. Kirk was one of these loyal customers, but since he always put his orders online, the employees actually never saw his face or heard his voice. Only the delivery drivers ever caught a glimpse of the elusive man.
It’s not that Kirk is a recluse, but he keeps to himself. One of his neighbors, Robert Lalonde, said, “I knock on the door every once in a while - sometimes he answers.” Sarah said that he was always very polite to the delivery drivers and there was never an issue with him during the seven years he ordered from them. But when Kirk's orders stopped coming in, Sarah and her team grew concerned about him and it led to an unbelievable story that went on to become national news.
Why Had Kirk Stopped Ordering His Beloved Pizzas?
No one at the branch noticed anything unusual for the first few days. A regular shift at the branch was busy from start to finish, with not much time to kick back and relax. The team works hard and they work well together, but everyone has specific jobs and it’s rare to have the time to chat about what’s happened during the day, or more importantly, what hasn't happened.
After a while, Sarah and a few other staff members commented that they hadn’t seen Kirk’s usual online order on the system. It was the first time this had happened in well over seven years of him being a loyal and very consistent customer. Could something have happened to him?
Hopefully, There Was a Simple Explanation, But Something Didn't Feel Right
Some of the crew commented that perhaps Kirk had taken a long-overdue short trip somewhere. To their knowledge, Kirk lived at the same house in Salem and his orders had been coming in almost every day. Maybe after seven years, he needed a change of scenery. Even though no one knew what Kirk was doing for a living, maybe a convention was taking place in another city and he’d headed there for a few days on business. They all seemed like plausible reasons, yet there was a nagging feeling about his silence.
It wasn’t just the Domino's Pizza staff that noticed Kirk’s absence. Sarah Fuller was starting to get comments from some of the delivery drivers, remarking that they hadn’t dropped any food off at Kirk’s house for a while. The diligent manager took it upon herself to do some investigating. Fuller typed Kirk’s name into the system and checked when he had last placed an online order. She was shocked to discover it had been 11 days since he sent an order. Something must be wrong with their loyal customer, or was the company at fault?
Had the Pizza Company Done Something Wrong?
This was definitely out of character for Kirk. Sure, he was a quiet man, but this was not like him at all. Over the years, they had come to consider him as not only a loyal customer, but also a friend. Having placed so many orders with the team, they were genuinely concerned about Kirk's sudden lack of contact.
But were they over-worrying? Was there a simple explanation for his absence? Had he simply found another pizza company? They would hate to think that they had lost him as a loyal customer because of something they had unknowingly done wrong. Sarah wanted to believe that if there had been a problem with an order, that Kirk would have mentioned it directly to them. Surely he hadn’t grown bored of pizzas?!
The Branch Made a Bold Decision to Take Action but They Needed a Volunteer
The people in the staff were sure that he hadn’t gotten sick of pizza, and even though they tried to think of possible reasons for Kirk's disappearance, they kept coming back to the same conclusion – something was wrong. Sarah and her team took it upon themselves to send a member of staff over to Kirk’s house to see if they might notice anything unusual. It fell to delivery driver Tracey Hamblen to make the journey. He was more than happy to take time out to check up on Kirk.
When Tracey pulled up outside the house, there was a dreadful feeling in the pit of his stomach that he tried to push down. He got out of his delivery van and headed to the front door, feeling slightly anxious. He was relieved to see that the lights were on. Surely that was a good sign. Perhaps Kirk had simply been out of town for a while and had just returned. Tracey could clearly hear the sound of the television too. During an interview later, the driver said, “He wasn’t answering the door but there were lights on and you could hear the TV playing.”
Would Their Loyal Customer Answer?
Tracey decided to take it one step further. After all, he had known Kirk for many years and if this was all just one big misunderstanding, he was sure that Kirk would have appreciated the company's concern. So he knocked on the front door, hoping that Kirk would answer it in his usual friendly manner.
There was no immediate answer, so Tracey knocked again. Still nothing. He called Kirk’s number but it went straight to voicemail. Now he became very concerned. If Kirk was at home with the lights on and the television playing, then surely he should have heard the knocking at the front door. The delivery driver raced back to the restaurant.
Time to Contact Emergency Services
Everyone at the branch was eager to hear what Tracey had to say. But learning Kirk might be home but wasn't answering the door deepened their worries. They decided to call him again. Sarah dialed his number and waited, but yet again the call went straight to voicemail. Things were starting to get serious and it was time to contact the authorities. They’d exhausted all other options so this was the only thing left to do.
Everyone agreed with her when she said they should call 911. Again, Tracey Hamblen stepped up and volunteered to make the call, as he had actually been to the house and may be able to answer some of their specific questions. They didn’t want to waste police time, but collectively, they felt sure that Kirk was in trouble. Tracey connected with the 911 operator and was asked to explain the emergency. He gave the details as calmly as he could. “This is Domino’s Pizza and we have a customer that usually orders like every night from us. And he hasn’t ordered in 11 days.”
Would the Police Take This Call Seriously?
The operator put him straight through to Marion County sheriff’s department. Hamblen had to go through everything again with the officers at the end of the line, saying that this customer usually ordered from them almost every single day.
He stressed that an order hadn’t come through for 11 days and everyone at the branch was extremely concerned about their loyal customer. The delivery driver explained that he had driven to Kirk’s house and had heard the television playing, and had seen that all the lights were on. He then mentioned the persistent knocks and calls that had gone unanswered.
There Was Nothing the Team Could Do Now - It Was Out of Their Hands
Tracey could tell that the Marion County Sheriff’s Department was taking every word he said seriously. They didn’t think for one minute that he was wasting their time or being overly cautious. The police saw a genuine cause for concern and decided to investigate it immediately. The employees at Domino's were relieved that deputies are now heading to Kirk's house to check on him. All the staff could do now was be patient and let the deputies do their job. It would be an agonizing wait.
The sheriff sent officers to Kirk’s home, and the trained deputies walked up to the front door, not knowing what they were about to face. They knocked loudly on the door and called out for Mr. Alexander to open up. Just as before, when Tracey Hamblen had knocked, there was no answer. They raised their voices and beat loudly on the door. But still, Kirk did not appear.
Suddenly, There Was a Major Breakthrough
Just as the deputies were about to force the door open, one of them heard a faint voice coming from inside the house. A man was calling out for help, but his voice was incredibly weak. Upon hearing the cries for help, they broke down the door and raced inside.
Kirk was lying on the floor, calling for the men to get to him as quickly as possible. They quickly called for the paramedics. Luckily for Kirk, the ambulance was only minutes away, and it arrived on the scene with sirens blaring. All the neighbors rushed outside to see what the commotion was about. They were shocked to see an ambulance pull up outside Kirk’s house.
Were They Too Late to Save Him?
The highly trained paramedic team rushed into the house to assist Kirk. After their initial assessment, they could tell that the man was “in need of immediate medical attention.” They carefully placed Kirk onto a stretcher and headed to the hospital. According to later reports, Kirk had suffered from minor strokes in the past and it appeared that he had had another one. It was clear that time was of the essence, and Kirk was in a frail condition. If he had been left unattended just a few hours longer, the deputies and ambulance crew might have found him lifeless.
The ambulance got Kirk to the hospital in a matter of minutes. The doctors and nurses worked frantically to save Kirk’s life. It was clear that he was dehydrated and had been on the floor for a long time. Luckily he was conscious and could answer some basic questions. No one at the Domino's restaurant had any idea just how serious this was and how critical their intervention had been. They were all just waiting to hear feedback from the sheriff or his deputies. It was a worrying time for all of them.
Finally, the Domino's Team Hears About Kirk's Condition
Luckily, Kirk was found in the nick of time. After a few tense hours of monitoring his conditioning, it was clear that he was going to pull through and make a full recovery. Once the news had filtered back to the staff at Domino’s, everyone there was overjoyed to hear that Kirk was going to be okay. They were all so relieved. Manager Sarah said, “We’re like a family here, and we were glad we were able to do something to help.“ The team was eager to head to the hospital to see Kirk.
The Domino’s staff bought cards and flowers for their loyal customer, and as soon as they were permitted to visit, they headed to the hospital. They wanted him to know that they had all been worried about him when he stopped putting orders in. It was important for him to realize that there were members of the community looking out for him and thinking of him. As one of the team said, they hoped that their visit would give him some much-needed strength and “hopefully help him recover faster knowing that people do care about him.”
It Was to See Kirk so Weak
It was very alarming seeing him on that first visit. He was frail and weak and had trouble speaking to those that visited. He didn’t have much energy to converse with them, and could only manage yes or no answers to all their questions.
They didn’t want to overwhelm him, so the team kept their questions to as few as possible. They were eager to find out how he was feeling and when he would be allowed to go back home. From what they found out, Kirk would need to stay in the hospital for a while longer and would need to spend some time in the rehabilitation center. The stroke had had a massive effect on him; due to him being unattended for a while after it happened.
It Was Clear That He Wouldn't Have Survived Much Longer
Thankfully, the damage wasn’t any worse, due to the care and concern shown by the team at Domino’s. While they described him as being “a little out of it,” during the first visit, they were encouraged to see a small improvement when they went back to the hospital a few days later.
Even though Kirk had a long and tough road ahead of him, it was clear that he was being very looked after. His progress would be slow, but he was in good hands and he had been found in the nick of time.
Slow Progress But Signs of Improvement Start to Show
While Kirk remains a patient at the hospital, it is clear that he would be getting a lot of visitors and calls. As news of the Domino’s team’s heroic act filtered up the chain of command, senior members of the pizza company also started checking in on Kirk to make sure he was recovering well.
After a few days, Kirk was moved to the rehabilitation center and people were allowed to stay longer during visits. His strength was returning and he was able to say a few more words. It was reassuring for the staff at the hospital to see him making such good progress.
The Main Ingredient for This Successful Pizza Company Is Not Obvious But It Is Essential
The Director of Public Relations at Domino’s headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Jenny Fouracre, wasn’t surprised when she heard about the Salem branch’s life-saving deed. She knew that staff grew fond of their loyal customers and would build up great relationships with them over the years.
Customer service is extremely important to the company and it is instilled in every member of staff when they first join. Establishing rapport with their clients has made the company what it is today.
The Company That Became Part of the Community
Jenny went on to say that Domino’s is “proud of our team members who took the initiative to reach out and help a regular customer who was in distress. There are thousands of Domino’s stores across the country, but every store is really a part of their neighborhood, delivering to people in their homes, which means we often get to know our customers well.”
And it’s not surprising that this isn’t the only time that Domino’s has come to the aid of customers. In fact, there are many stories of regular customers receiving help from various stores over the years. It’s lovely to see how committed the company is to the communities it serves.
The Lives of These Caring Workers Were About to Change in a Big Way
Sarah Fuller is proud of her team and how caring it is. But they are rather humbled by the reaction they received, as they really don’t consider themselves heroes. During an interview, Fuller said, “I think we were just doing our job checking in on someone we know who orders a lot. We felt like we needed to do something.” They might not have seen it as a big deal, but others most definitely did. They had no idea what was about to happen to them as news of their actions reached further afield.
It was no surprise that the story made it into the local Salem newspaper. Not much usually happens in this small city of fewer than 200,000 residents. So when an event takes place, it’s sure to make it into the paper. But this story had picked up the attention of other larger publications. Soon, the branch was the subject of media attention from far and wide. The Domino’s Public Relations Department informed the Salem branch that it was getting requests for interviews from national news networks.
Television Interview Requests for the Famous Heroes
There was also a request for Sarah and her assistant manager, Jenny Seiber, to appear on Good Morning America. The show sent a camera crew to Salem and the ladies were interviewed live on the popular morning show.
Host Robin Roberts thanked Jenny and Sarah saying that they had “restored our belief in doing the right thing.” As the pair recalled the events leading up to Kirk’s rescue, it was clear that the pizza branch had been solely responsible for saving his life. Robin had a huge surprise in store for everyone who’d played a part in that.
A Wonderful Surprise for Everyone at the Salem Domino's Restaurant
It gave Robin Roberts such pleasure to give the team an unexpected gift. “Since you guys are superheroes, we’re gonna send you to Captain America: Civil War.” Sarah and Jenny’s faces lit up as they were told that every single member of staff at the Salem branch was going to see the newly released blockbuster film, starring Chris Evans, as a treat and a thank you. But that wasn’t all.
Both the caring ladies and delivery driver, Tracey Hamblen, were about to get the shock of their lives! Nothing could have prepared them for this news.
The Biggest Shock Was Still to Come
The bosses at Domino’s were so impressed by the three of them that they wanted to meet them in person. Every year, the company holds a huge event known as the Domino’s Worldwide Rally. The bosses wanted Sarah, Jenny, and Tracey to come to the convention to personally thank them for their life-saving efforts.
The Salem trio was about to go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas to attend the Worldwide Rally! As Robin told them about their upcoming trip, their faces lit up and they were rendered speechless.
More Praise and Gratitude for the Squad for Their Heroic Efforts
And it wasn’t just the news stations, newspapers, and company bosses who were full of appreciation for the team’s actions. The Marion County Sheriff’s Department also released a statement praising the concern and care that they had shown.
In their press release, they declared that “Thanks to the quick actions of Mr. Hamblen, Mr. Alexander is in stable condition at the Salem Hospital.” The department went on to express its thanks to the delivery driver who had volunteered to head over to Kirk’s house.
The Delivery Driver Who Took the Time to Get to Know His Customers
The statement said, “The Sheriff’s Office would like to personally thank Mr. Hamblen for his quick actions and willingness to take time out of his day to care for others.”
It had come to light that Hamblen was aware of Kirk’s medical problems in the past, having had several conversations with the customer over the years. Having ordered food several times a week for over seven years, it’s not surprising that Kirk and Tracey had built up a doorstep friendship.
Kirk's Current Condition and What His Future Holds
The team was definitely not prepared for the attention and praise they received from their company and the media. It was lovely to see the genuine look of surprise at the news of both the cinema trip and the Las Vegas event. Despite all the requests for interviews, the team still had to work their hours and get food delivered to the rest of their loyal customers.
When they finished work, they would take turns to head to the hospital to see Kirk. It was important to them that he received regular visits to keep his morale up during his arduous recovery. He was overwhelmed by their kindness and consistent visits. He is looking forward to getting released from the hospital and getting back home, where he can go back to ordering pizzas online from his team of lifesavers.
You would think there aren't many cases where people's lives were saved with the help of a pizza company But apparently, Kirk's story is not the only time when a pizza company was involved in saving a life. In the upcoming story, a woman used the Pizza Hut app to save her kids' lives. Keep reading for the full story...
You would think there aren't many cases where people's lives were saved with the help of a pizza company But apparently, Kirk's story is not the only time when a pizza company was involved in saving a life. In the upcoming story, a woman used the Pizza Hut app to save her kids' lives. Keep reading for the full story...
Mother Uses Pizza Hut Order to Save Her Kids’ Lives
Nothing fixes your food problems like ordering your favorite pizza. Has that dreaded night when you have nothing at home to cook arrived? Had a long day and just don’t have it in you to turn on your stove and whip up a meal? Having your local pizza restaurant on speed dial is one of the most reliable food options. But has it ever crossed your mind that it can help save your life?
No, we don’t mean save your life when you’re famished. One Avon Park woman was threatened by a man and found herself in a dangerous situation. To save herself and her young children, she used an unusual but ingenious tactic. She opened the pizza app on her phone. Read on to find out what happened next.
A Nutty Boyfriend
It was just another warm Spring day in Florida in May 2015 when 25-year-old Cheryl Treadway found herself in a tight spot. She was alone with her boyfriend when she discovered he had gone crazy. The mother of three wasn’t just making wild assumptions. She arrived at the conclusion that her boyfriend had lost his mind in the most terrifying way. Treadway and her 26-year-old boyfriend Ethan Nickerson had spent the entire morning arguing.
As the quarrel escalated, the situation took a dangerous turn when Nickerson suddenly pulled out a large knife on her! She was horrified. Not only did he pull out the knife, but Nickerson also began sharpening it in her presence. Treadway feared for her life, but more importantly, she feared for her young children.
Away at School
Treadway was being held hostage by her knife-wielding boyfriend. Not only that, but he had also confiscated her phone, making it impossible for her to call for help. The mom desperately needed a way to get away. They both have three young sons, who thankfully, were away at school when Treadway pulled the knife on the mother of his kids.
With no way to run to and no one to call, Treadway’s mind raced to find a way out of her predicament. Nickerson looked like he came prepared to cause some damage. He could snap and turn the knife on her at any moment. She had to come up with an escape plan fast. What could she possibly think of?
Appealing to Dad
Imagine being in Treadway’s shoes. How would you get yourself out of such a critical situation? She couldn’t risk fighting back or running away, as her drug-addicted boyfriend was armed and dangerous. Treadway was basically on lockdown. So, her motherly instincts came into effect and she decided to appeal to his sense of fatherhood. This was the only way.
She told Nickerson that she had to bring the boys back home from school. It was clever thinking because she knew he cared about them. Having spent the entire day in a heated debate, she hoped talking about the boys would help calm her maniac boyfriend down. But was Nickerson convinced enough to let her go?
Bringing the Boys Home
Just as Treadway had hoped, he allowed her to go pick up their kids from school. Treadway’s idea worked, and she immediately began preparing to leave the house for the first time since the altercation began. But of course, Nickerson wasn’t just going to let her walk out of the house. Before she could make a move, he added the condition.
Nickerson told Treadway he could allow her to pick up the kids only if he went with her. He didn’t want her going to the police and alerting them. The whole family drove back home together, although it must have been an unusually quiet ride. The kids had no idea they were in the midst of a hostage situation and that their dad had pulled a knife out on their mom a while ago.
In a Tough Situation
After the family arrived home, it dawned on Treadway that she was in far greater trouble than she was in initially. Before she brought the kids home, it was just her against her knife-wielding, looney boyfriend. But now, she also had to worry about the kids. Even if she wanted to make a run for it, she couldn’t do so with three young boys. Plus she didn’t have her cell phone with her.
The mom was running out of options, and the more time passed, the more likely it was that Nickerson would do something crazy. But Treadway wasn’t going to give up. She had to protect her kids. She had to find a way to leave the house before someone got hurt. But what options did she have left?
Step by Step
As a mother, Treadway never stopped thinking of ways to escape the clasp of her crazy boyfriend. But she had to be careful, as one misstep could land her and her kids in serious trouble. That was when a brilliant idea hit her, one that could just be her ticket out of this sticky situation. Once again, Treadway pulled out the fatherhood card on Nickerson.
"The kids are hungry," she said. "Let's order a pizza. Let's get them some food." It was the best idea she could come up with at that moment. She figured he wouldn’t refuse the request, as he wouldn’t want his kids to starve. But the pizza was just a smokescreen. What did Treadway really have in mind?
A Unique Pizza Delivery
As outlandish as the idea may appear, it wound up working. Nickerson considered her request. Apart from wanting the kids fed, he was probably hungry too and wouldn’t mind a slice or two of pizza. Besides, Treadway wouldn’t be leaving his sight. So, sure, pizza for the family would be great.
It was an easy fix, considering the tense situation the family was in, and that was why Treadway proposed it. And by the look of things, her real plan was going to work. Nickerson handed her back her phone so that she could place the order. But, again, he surprised her with a condition. He only allowed her to make the order using the Pizza Hut app.
Finding a Way
You’re probably thinking that Treadway could quickly put a call through to the cops to come to her rescue now that she had her phone back. But it wasn’t so easy. Nickerson still had the sharpened knife, which he was using to threaten his victim. He was still unpredictable. Plus he knew there was a possibility she would try to call the police once the phone was back with her, so he was watching her.
Treadway, on the other hand, was afraid Nickerson might overhear her talking with the police. If he did, things could get ugly in an instant. She couldn’t take that risk. Whatever she wanted to do, she had to make sure that he wouldn’t be able to detect it. She had to get creative.
Paying Attention to Details
With the phone in her hands, Treadway possibly had her and her kids’ ticket out of their horrible predicament. But a few years ago, she wouldn’t have been so lucky because there was no such technology that could allow someone to place an order for food using a phone app. Now we can do so from almost anywhere at the touch of a button!
Also, there’s a comment section in the Pizza Hut app where you can add specific instructions to your order. That was exactly what Treadway was after. She instantly knew the right action to take. Rather than add a request for extra toppings or slightly burnt crust, she used the comment section to her advantage. But would her plan work? Time will tell.
Call the Cops!
Treadway placed an order for the pizza as usual, careful not to do anything that would make Nickerson suspicious. The order was for a large pepperoni pizza. The only difference between this order and the countless others she had made using the app was that she included a secret message in the comment section for the lovely people over at Pizza Hut.
Her message read: "Please help. Get 911 to me. 911hostage help!" She then sent the message on its way, hoping that it would bring the result she wanted. There were no guarantees her plan would work, so all she could do was wait. Do you think the folks at Pizza Hut acted on the message and sent Treadway the help she desperately needed?
Caught Off Guard
Treadway’s order landed at Pizza Hut and the workers were immediately taken aback when they saw it. Meanwhile, Treadway was at home hoping that her plan would yield results, for the sake of her children. She kept looking out the window, anxious, watching, waiting. The message was her only hope!
Back at Pizza Hut, the staff huddled around the computer screen where Treadway’s message was displayed. “Please help,” it read. They summoned manager Cindy Hamilton. Hamilton had 28 years on the job and she said she had never seen any message like that before. Frankly, not many people have!
Anxiously Waiting
While the staff at Pizza Hut tried to figure out what to do with the order with the unusual request, Treadway was struggling with anxiety back at home. The hostage situation had not gotten any better. Nickerson still had the knife and there was still the possibility that he would use it. She waited, staring out of her window, trying to keep hope alive.
But the mom of three couldn’t keep calm. Everyone knows kids play pranks. What if the staff at Pizza Hut thought her message was a joke? She knew her method of calling for help was unconventional, but she hoped they didn’t think she was only raising a false alarm.
Knowing the Real Deal
Although the staff at Pizza Hut were surprised to receive Treadway’s message, she was no stranger to them at all. She had been living in the area for some time and frequently bought pizza from the restaurant, so they recognized her. This fact was key in having her message taken seriously. She had never before sent such a distress signal, so the staff knew that they weren’t dealing with a prank.
They immediately did as the message said. "We didn't even question it," Hamilton said. “We immediately called 911." Events may have unfolded differently had Treadway not been a regular at the restaurant. She never would have imagined that ordering frequently from them would one day be an important factor in saving her and her children’s lives.
Help Is on the Way
Finally, the police were notified about Treadway’s horrendous situation. The Highland County Sheriff's Office got the call from Pizza Hut and they dispatched Lieutenant Curtis Ludden, alongside his deputies, to attend to the problem. They found their way to the home of Cheryl Treadway and Ethan Nickerson and prepared for the encounter.
The officers parked their cars outside when they arrived at the home. Having been anxiously staring out her window while waiting for their arrival, Treadway would have been overwhelmed with joy to see the cops. Help had finally arrived, and she and her boys would, at last, be delivered from the hours-long stronghold of Nickerson.
A Wave of Relief
At that very moment when the cops pulled up at her house rather than the pizza delivery person, Treadway felt a wave of relief. The mom felt like she had just hit the jackpot of safety. Her anxiety melted away and hope and relief took its place. Still, she had one more task to do. She had to get the kids out of the house before Nickerson became aware of what was happening.
She couldn’t risk him finding out the cops had arrived before she had safely gotten the kids out. He could lose it and decide to use the knife. Treadway had to do some clever thinking once again. Would she be able to pull this off? There was no way to know for sure.
Liberation
There wasn’t a moment to spare. Treadway needed to act immediately. The cops were waiting outside, ready to whisk the young boys and their mom to safety before they dealt with their father. So Treadway decided to take charge of the situation. She snatched up her youngest son, held him tight, and made a mad dash outside.
Once outside, she met Lt. Ludden (pictured) and quickly informed him that her other two children were still in the house with her knife-wielding crazy boyfriend. By then there wasn’t anything left she could do. She was smart to choose to save her youngest child first; however, she didn’t know at that time that she was in luck.
Time for Negotiations
Treadway didn’t know it at that point in time, but she was incredibly lucky. She had no idea that she was speaking with hostage negotiator Lt. Ludden. If anyone was going to have a shot at persuading Nickerson to surrender, it was this man. Not only was he the police department’s lead negotiator, but he also had a brilliant track record. And he just happened to be on duty that night!
With Lt. Ludden on the team, talking to Nickerson would be a piece of cake. He had talked down many people in the course of his illustrious career, and the looney dad holding his family hostage with a knife was going to be just another number in his list.
A One-On-One Talk
Once Treadway was safe with them, the officers got down to the real business of dealing with her boyfriend. They still had to approach Nickerson with caution, as two young boys were still with him and they didn’t want him to do anything silly. Lt. Ludden took control of the situation.
His conversation with Nickerson lasted twenty minutes, after which the dad dropped the knife and handed himself over. At long last, the terrifying ordeal came to an end. The officers safely recovered Treadway’s other two kids and they were reunited with their mother. Their nightmare was finally over and they were all safe in each other's arms.
Praise for Treadway
Now that Nickerson had surrendered and was in custody and the kids were reunited with their mother, things appeared to be looking up for the little family. This was possible thanks to Treadway and her quick, creative thinking. The police celebrated her cleverness and she merited it.
Lt. Ludden also had some words of praise for Treadway. "I don't know if I ever would have thought of it," he said. “I mean it’s just something that she did so naturally. The boyfriend never knew about it until he saw us coming around the corner.”
More Praise for Treadway
How many people would have come up with such a bizarre idea, chipping in a hidden message into a pizza delivery order? It was a brilliant move by Treadway, and she really should be proud of her heroic actions in saving her family. The manager of the Pizza Hut restaurant also applauded Treadway’s smarts.
Hamilton called Treadway “the hero in this situation.” “She just thought outside the box...I think that’s amazing,” she added. What Treadway did was indeed amazing, but the entire story of her ordeal might seem like it was pulled from a movie. It’s an incredible tale of survival and a mother's love; one that might be hard to believe until you read it for yourself.
Kirk lives alone in a small house in Salem, Oregon. He rarely ventures out of his home, preferring to order food in, especially his beloved pizza. And he will only order from Domino’s, so naturally, the staff at his local Salem branch regularly sees his order pop up on their screen. Kirk never calls his order in, preferring to choose the online method. The general manager of the branch, Sarah Fuller, and the rest of the staff can easily spot which pizza request is for Kirk.