The young student has been recognized for their brave and life-saving actions.
⚠️ Warning: This article contains details of domestic violence that some readers may find distressing.
A young child has been hailed a hero after taking quick and courageous action that likely saved their mother’s life on their way to school one morning.
According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday, September 24, the student unexpectedly became their mother’s rescuer after quietly asking for help in an extraordinary way.
The first-grade student, whose identity remains private, helped their mother escape a terrifying domestic situation through an act of sheer bravery. While attending Sumner-Fredericksburg School in Fayette County, Iowa, the child discreetly handed a handwritten note to their school bus driver — a move that triggered an immediate emergency response.
The note was passed to the driver around 7:24 a.m., and within minutes, deputies were dispatched to the family’s rural home in Westgate, Iowa. Authorities later confirmed that 29-year-old Glenroy Stefand Miller had been arrested and charged with multiple serious offenses.
Glenroy Stefand Miller now faces a slew of charges
Investigators determined that the child’s mother had been held captive inside the home by Miller. He was arrested shortly after and charged with domestic abuse assault, as well as interference with emergency communications after allegedly taking the victim’s phone to prevent her from calling for help.
The handwritten note contained only two chilling words — “Call 911.”
Authorities later revealed that the desperate message was written by the mother herself, who had no other safe way to reach out for help while her abuser was present in the home.
After Miller was taken into custody, investigators pieced together the horrifying sequence of events that had unfolded overnight. They confirmed the victim had suffered repeated assaults, including being kicked so violently that she sustained two broken ribs and a punctured lung.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office described the ordeal in disturbing detail:
“At one point Miller started to take her to the hospital and then turned around and forced her home after realizing he would go to jail if he did. 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.”
Authorities went to the property after getting a call
Miller is now facing several serious charges, including:
- Domestic abuse assault with intent to cause severe injury
- Willful injury resulting in serious injury
- Second-degree kidnapping while armed with a deadly weapon
- Obstruction of an emergency communication device
Public arrest records show that Miller is being held on a $1,500 bond. Officials also confirmed he is in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as he is originally from the Bahamas.
For anyone experiencing domestic violence, help is always available. You can reach the National Domestic Violence Helpline 24 hours a day by calling 0808 2000 247. Trained advisors are ready to listen, support, and help you find safety in confidence.
