Mean Man

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.

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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 [email protected]

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