MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) - The grandmother of a 5-year-old held hostage for a week in an underground bunker says the boy is OK physically, but she fears the ordeal could stay with him the rest of his life.
Betty Jean Ransbottom told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she had never endured anything so horrible while waiting to find out if her grandson was safe.
Ransbottom says the boy seemed fine in the hospital on Monday after his rescue, but the family isn't sure yet how he is doing mentally.
She says an FBI agent stayed with the family the entire time the boy was being held hostage. Ransbottom says authorities have not given them much information because of the ongoing investigation.
MIDLAND CITY, Ala. (AP) - Relatives of the 5-year-old boy freed when federal agents raided the underground bunker of a hostage-taker in Alabama say the youngster is relieved to be home and appears to be doing well.
The boy's great uncle, Berlin Enfinger, said in an interview on ABC's Good Morning America early Tuesday that "he's happy to be home, and he looks good."
After nearly a week, FBI agents determined that talks with Jimmy Lee Dykes were breaking down and they stormed the bunker and rescued the child Monday. The 65-year-old armed captor was killed by law enforcement officials, an official told The Associated Press.
Dykes was accused of fatally shooting a school bus driver Jan. 29 before seizing the child from among a busload of students and taking him to the bunker.
