Kidnapped 10-year-old boy convinces captor to surrender, hailed as hero

When Sincere Trammell of Liberty Township, Ohio, walked into the kitchen on Friday night, the last thing he was expecting to see was a man pointing a gun at his mother’s head. But that was exactly what the 10-year-old discovered.

“When I walked in there, I saw him having a gun to my mom’s head,” Sincere told WLWT5 on Jan. 16. “He kept saying give me $10,000 now.”

The man was identified as 31-year-old Donald Gazaway, a longtime family friend. Sincere’s grandmother, Iris Trammell, mentioned that Gazaway had spent the holidays with them. She never expected Gazaway could do such a thing since she had known him since he was a toddler.

But of the Gazaway that they saw that Tuesday night, Iris only had one thing to say: “That was somebody that we didn’t know.”

When Gazaway saw Sincere walk into the kitchen, he chased him into a room in fear that Sincere might have a phone. This gave Sincere’s mother the opportunity to run out of the house and call for help. Gazaway held Sincere hostage inside the closet, but eventually moved to a car in the garage.

“He kept saying in the car that he was going to let me go,” Sincere told WLWT5. “I convinced him to turn himself in because he was going to kill himself and he kept crying. He was saying that he had two options, and then he said he was going to kill himself or turn himself in, and he kept saying he might kill himself.”

As Sincere listened, he couldn’t help but show empathy with Gazaway. “I told him how I was feeling,” continued Sincere. “I wouldn’t like that, and he has two daughters who would feel bad. I said that jail would probably get you better at life, and that would be a better option to do.”

Sincere also told Gazaway that God will give him another chance to become a better person in life. Not long after, Gazaway surrendered and released Sincere to the authorities.

Butler County, Ohio, Sheriff Richard K. Jones couldn’t help but express his emotions in light of the event. He took to Twitter on Jan. 17, posting a picture of a safe Sincere eating donuts.

“10 year old after being taken hostage Over 36 hours,” wrote Sheriff Jones. “Having donuts with the first responders. Thank GOD.”

Image: Twitter/@butlersheriff

Gazaway is currently detained in the Butler County Jail; he is charged with kidnapping, felonious assault and including panic. Gazaway’s bond is set at more than $1 million.

As for Sincere? His grandmother Iris calls him a hero.  Cody Cepeda /ra

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