Alabama’s ‘Boy in the Bunker’ graduates high school 13 years after deadly school bus abduction

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MIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- Police and Emergency personnel remain on site at the property of Jimmy Lee Sykes  Saturday February 2, 2013. Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes has been holed up in a bunker on his property with the a 5-year-old child since the late afternoon shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Apolice officer dressed in camo walks a tree line on the property.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). JOE SONGERMIDLAND CITY, Alabama --  Photos released by the FBI from inside the bunker where Jimmy Lee Dykes held 5 year old Ethan during during the 6 day stand off in Midland City Alabama.   The images inside the bunker as Dale County SheriffÕs Deputies, Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation process the crime scene and other behind the scene photos.(Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- The FBI and other authorities continue to gather evidence from around the bunker where Jimmy Lee Dykes held 5 year old Ethan for 7 days. Ethan was rescued and Dykes was killed Monday February 4, 2013 ending the ordeal. Authorities allowed cameras to the closest point yet Wednesday afternoon. For this vantage point the tent covering the bunker can be seen. Officers and equipment left Napier Field today in a cargo plane. Robots used during the week long hostage situation were also loaded on trailers at the site on Hwy 231. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama--After seven days spent hostage in Jimmy Lee Dykes' underground bunker in Midland City, 5-year-old Ethan is free, sources have told AL.com. The hostage situation ended Monday afternoon. Sources at the scene confirm that Ethan is safe and the hostage taker, ???Jimmy Lee Dykes, has been killed.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama--After seven days spent hostage in Jimmy Lee Dykes' underground bunker in Midland City, 5-year-old Ethan is free, sources have told AL.com. The hostage situation ended Monday afternoon. Sources at the scene confirm that Ethan is safe and the hostage taker, ???Jimmy Lee Dykes, has been killed.  On Tuesday February 5, 2013, FBI and other personnel process the crime scene. One official said it will take days to complete. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama--After seven days spent hostage in Jimmy Lee Dykes' underground bunker in Midland City, 5-year-old Ethan is free, sources have told AL.com. The hostage situation ended Monday afternoon. Sources at the scene confirm that Ethan is safe and the hostage taker, ???Jimmy Lee Dykes, has been killed.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama --  Photos released by the FBI from inside the bunker where Jimmy Lee Dykes held 5 year old Ethan during during the 6 day stand off in Midland City Alabama.   The images inside the bunker as Dale County SheriffÕs Deputies, Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation process the crime scene and other behind the scene photos.(Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). al.comResidents of Midland City, Alabama and surrounding communities came together at the gazebo in the center of town for a candlelight vigil for Ethan, the 5 year old boy being held hostage in an underground bunker. Prayers were offered for the safe return for the boy. A vigil will be held every night until the crisis is over.  Tommy and Sherry Martell brought their daughter Allison, 10, to the candlelight vigil. (Joe Songer/Joe Songer/al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- Police and Emergency personnel remain on site at the property of Jimmy Lee Sykes  Saturday February 2, 2013. Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes has been holed up in a bunker on his property with the a 5-year-old child since the late afternoon shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). JOE SONGERMIDLAND CITY, Alabama--After seven days spent hostage in Jimmy Lee Dykes' underground bunker in Midland City, 5-year-old Ethan is free, sources have told AL.com. The hostage situation ended Monday afternoon. Sources at the scene confirm that Ethan is safe and the hostage taker, ???Jimmy Lee Dykes, has been killed.  On Tuesday February 5, 2013, FBI and other personnel process the crime scene. One official said it will take days to complete. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comResidents of Midland City, Alabama and surrounding communities came together at the gazebo in the center of town for a candlelight vigil for Ethan, the 5 year old boy being held hostage in an underground bunker. Prayers were offered for the safe return for the boy. A vigil will be held every night until the crisis is over. (Joe Songer/Joe Songer/al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama--After seven days spent hostage in Jimmy Lee Dykes' underground bunker in Midland City, 5-year-old Ethan is free, sources have told AL.com. The hostage situation ended Monday afternoon. Sources at the scene confirm that Ethan is safe and the hostage-taker, ???Jimmy Lee Dykes, has been killed. Click the headline above for live updates.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- Police and Emergency personnel remain on site at the property of Jimmy Lee Sykes  Monday February 4, 2013. Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes has been holed up in a bunker on his property with the a 5-year-old child since the late afternoon shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013.  Sykes killed the bus driver and abducted the child. This is the seventh day of the hostage situation.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comNAPIER FIELD, Alabama--Over 100 people from Midland City and Napier Field, Alabama came together to celebrate the rescue of 5 year old Ethan from a 7 day ordeal in a bunker in Midland City Tuesday February 5, 2013. Several Napier Field residents planned the event as a candlelight vigil. When Ethan was rescued on Monday the event turned into a celebration. Ethan turns 6 on Wednesday so residents flooded the town hall with hundreds of birthday cards that Ethan will receive later. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- The FBI and other authorities continue to gather evidence from around the bunker where Jimmy Lee Dykes held 5 year old Ethan for 7 days. Ethan was rescued and Dykes was killed Monday February 4, 2013 ending the ordeal. Authorities allowed cameras to the closest point yet Wednesday afternoon. For this vantage point the tent covering the bunker can be seen. Officers and equipment left Napier Field today in a cargo plane. Robots used during the week long hostage situation were also loaded on trailers at the site on Hwy 231. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- Sherry Johnson of Brundidge Alabama  and her two children Olivia Parker and John David Parker hold signs on Hwy. 231 urging motorists to pray for Ethan, the little boy being held hostage in Midland City. Sherry said she felt her family had to do something and this is what they decided to do. The family left church, drew the signs and came the the site in Midland City. Police and Emergency personnel remain on site at the property of Jimmy Lee Sykes  Sunday February 3, 2013 just off Hwy. 231 north of Dothan. Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes has been holed up in a bunker on his property with the a 5-year-old child since the late afternoon shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- Police and Emergency personnel remain on site at the property of Jimmy Lee Sykes  Monday February 4, 2013. Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes has been holed up in a bunker on his property with the a 5-year-old child since the late afternoon shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013.  Sykes killed the bus driver and abducted the child. This is the seventh day of the hostage situation.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama--After seven days spent hostage in Jimmy Lee Dykes' underground bunker in Midland City, 5-year-old Ethan is free, sources have told AL.com. The hostage situation ended Monday afternoon. Sources at the scene confirm that Ethan is safe and the hostage-taker, ???Jimmy Lee Dykes, has been killed. Click the headline above for live updates.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com) al.comOZARK, Alabama--  The funeral procession of slain bus driver Charles MIDLAND CITY, Alabama --  Photos released by the FBI from inside the bunker where Jimmy Lee Dykes held 5 year old Ethan during during the 6 day stand off in Midland City Alabama.   The images inside the bunker as Dale County SheriffÕs Deputies, Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation process the crime scene and other behind the scene photos.(Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). al.comThe funeral procession of slain school bus driver Charles “Chuck” Poland makes its way toward the Ozark Civic Center on 

Feb. 3, 2013. Poland was shot to death when he resisted a hostage-taker who’d barged onto his bus.   Joe Songer, jsonger@al.com 

Signs posted outside City Hall in little Midland City in January 2013 hail the heroism of school bus driver Charles “Chuck” Poland, who lost his life trying to defend his young bus riders from a hostage-taker.   Joe Songer, jsonger@al.com 

On Feb. 8, 2013, investigators continue scouring the underground the bunker built by Jimmy Lee Dykes, having killed him days earlier and rescued a 5-year-old boy whom he’d abducted.   Joe Songer, jsonger@al.com 

Reporters and camera crews from all over the U.S. gather in early February 2013 near the underground bunker were Jimmy Lee Sykes is holed up with a 5-year-old hostage. Law officers stormed the bunker and killed Sykes within days.   Joe Songer, jsonger@al.comOZARK, Alabama--  The funeral procession of slain bus driver Charles MIDLAND CITY, Alabama --  Photos released by the FBI from inside the bunker where Jimmy Lee Dykes held 5 year old Ethan during during the 6 day stand off in Midland City Alabama.   The images inside the bunker as Dale County SheriffÕs Deputies, Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation process the crime scene and other behind the scene photos.(Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- Police and Emergency personnel remain on site at the property of Jimmy Lee Sykes  Saturday February 2, 2013. Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes has been holed up in a bunker on his property with the a 5-year-old child since the late afternoon shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). JOE SONGERMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- Police and Emergency personnel remain on site at the property of Jimmy Lee Sykes  Saturday February 2, 2013. Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes has been holed up in a bunker on his property with the a 5-year-old child since the late afternoon shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013.  (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). JOE SONGERMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- Police and Emergency personnel remain on site at the property of Jimmy Lee Sykes  Sunday February 3, 2013 just off Hwy. 231 north of Dothan. Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes has been holed up in a bunker on his property with the a 5-year-old child since the late afternoon shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Signs have posted posted all over Midland City in support of the 5 year old boy being held hostage with many placed around Midland City Elementary school. Area churches offered prayer for the boy, his family and law enforcement officers trying to bring the situation to a peaceful end.Signs at Midland City Elementary School. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). al.comMIDLAND CITY, Alabama-- Police and Emergency personnel remain on site at the property of Jimmy Lee Sykes  Sunday February 3, 2013 just off Hwy. 231 north of Dothan. Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes has been holed up in a bunker on his property with the a 5-year-old child since the late afternoon shooting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. Signs have posted posted all over Midland City in support of the 5 year old boy being held hostage with many placed around Midland City Elementary school. Area churches offered prayer for the boy, his family and law enforcement officers trying to bring the situation to a peaceful end. Media from across the country wait for a press conference that was postponed. (Joe Songer/jsonger@al.com). al.com

Thirteen years ago, Eithan Gilman was snatched from his school bus in south Alabama and held in an underground bunker for more than a week by a gunman who shot his bus driver dead.

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