Whether adults realize it or not, children are always listening, and they know the difference between right and wrong. Sometimes, if they find themselves in a scary position at home, all it takes is the face of a friendly and familiar adult to help them speak up. On September 24, 2025, a young child in Iowa handed a note to their bus driver asking for help. That act of bravery might just have saved a mother’s life.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Sumner-Fredericksburg School District just before 7:30 a.m. with a disturbing story, according to a news release. A child reportedly got on the bus that morning and handed the driver a note that simply read, “Call 911.” Taking no chances, deputies immediately responded to the child’s home in rural Westgate and made a shocking discovery.
Deputies made contact with the child’s mother, who alleged 29-year-old Glenroy Stefand Miller was holding her against her will. She could not call for help on her own, so the mother handed the note to her child, hoping it would reach the hands of a caring adult. Thankfully, it did. From what police shared, it sounds as if this family had endured a living hell the night before.
The man had allegedly brutally assaulted the woman throughout the night. At one point, he planned to take her to the hospital but turned around because he feared he’d be arrested.
“Miller continued to assault the victim throughout the night causing serious injuries and threatened to kill her by holding a knife to her throat and wrists,” police shared in the news release.
Deputies took Miller to Fayette County Jail, where he awaits a court appearance. He faces charges of domestic abuse with intent to inflict serious injury, willful injury causing serious injury, second-degree armed kidnapping with a dangerous weapon, and obstruction of an emergency communication device, according to the news release.
Miller, originally from the Bahamas, is also being held on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.
Justin Helmers, a member of the victim’s family, shared his appreciation for everyone who helped apprehend Miller.
“As sad as this is and as much as my heart breaks for my niece and her family… THIS is how the system is to work. I pray that more women can be as witty as her to send the 911 not[e] to her child to hand to the bus driver,” Helmers wrote in a post on Facebook. “Thank you to the officers that were able to bring this human being (pretending to be a man), into custody. He should end up where he belongs. I hope that he’s not able to take advantage of upping women ever again. Thank you Lord for protecting this beautiful family.”
That mother and child are lucky to have each other. She’s clearly taught her child to do the right thing and to be brave. What a smart mom.
