Mean Man // 054

The school bus is usually a mode of transportation we associate with the word “safe.” Most of our memories riding the school bus as youth are attributed to laughs, field-trips, & fun- but for some kids, the school bus doesn’t represent any of those things. For a select unlucky few, the school bus represents something much worse. A darkness that most of us will never be able to fully comprehend. Yet, the children aboard school bus 0-42 in Midland City, AL back in 2013 are among those who certainly do know what it's like to be a target of a random, violent crime. These children know what it's like to have their lives put in extreme danger, unexpectedly, while riding that big yellow machine. The savage act that happened inside the 24,000lb transporter holding 10+ kids would come out of nowhere, by the hands of one crazed neighbor. A person locals only knew only as, “mean man,”...when he stormed the bus just after 3 p.m. with a handwritten list of demands, a fist full of zip ties, and a loaded 9mm handgun...

Written by Michael Dunphy Jr., Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. Special thanks to Julian & Matt Caradimos.

This episode is sponsored by Smile Brilliant. Use special code “INVISIBLE” for an exclusive discount off your order of professional teeth whitening & oral care products. 

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Written/Audio Sources: 

• Tre Watts Now: Where is 911 Caller in Ethan Gilman Case Today?

• 2013 Alabama bunker hostage crisis

• Man behind Alabama hostage standoff, Jimmy Lee Dykes: Paranoid, poor and particular

• Inside an FBI Hostage Crisis

• Son says bus driver in Alabama hostage crisis gave life for 'his children'

• Photos from the week-long standoff in Midland City, Alabama 

• Midland City, Alabama

• Baldwin County, Alabama

• Details emerge about Jimmy Lee Dykes - man at center of Alabama standoff | ABC13 Houston | 

• Sister Of Alabama Bus Driver Killed Trying To Protect Children Talks With KHQ

• Nearly a year after the Midland City hostage situation, Ethan's older brother speaks out

• Alabama School Bus Trespass Act Named After Charles Poland Signed Into Law

• FBI Hostage Rescue Team breach the bunker 

• Inside the Midland City Hostage Crisis

• Bringing Ethan Home: Inside the Alabama School Bus Kidnapping

• FBI releases audio from Midland City hostage crisis

• Midland City Images And Audio

• Caught on Tape: Alabama Hostage Crisis Audio - Bus Driver Stands Ground to Protect Kids

• School Bus Driver Killed, Child Held Hostage

• Sheriff: Ala. Child Hostage Standoff in 2nd Day

• Alabama standoff continues; 6-year-old still being held hostage

• Midland City hostage situation: Neighbor describes incident

• Alabama Hostage Crisis Enters Day 5

• Bunker | | dothaneagle.com

• FBI: Team Stormed Bunker When Child in Danger

• Alabama Boy, Ethan, Rescued: Suspect Jimmy Lee Dykes Dead as Hostage Crisis End

• AP Exclusive: Friend on When Dykes 'Snapped'

• New details emerge after bunker rescue

• Ala. Gov. Honors Slain Bus Driver

• Residents express relief after FBI save boy following standoff

Music & Sound Effect Sources

• Opening Track: “No Gravity No Certainty” by Experia

• Closing Track: “Fracture” by Jakob Ahlbom

Music & Sound Effect Sources

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at info@invisiblechoir.com