'I Believe God Brought Him to My Door' - Ga. Woman Taken Hostage [View All]

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB0VNDIA6E.html

ATLANTA (AP) - For hours, Ashley Smith gently talked to the armed suspect in Atlanta's courthouse slayings, turning from hostage to confidant as they discussed God, family, pancakes and the massive manhunt going on outside her apartment.

"I believe God brought him to my door," Smith said Sunday, only hours after her 911 call ended a manhunt for Brian Nichols, who is accused of shooting four people since Friday.

Over the course of the night, Nichols untied Smith, and some of the fear lessened as they talked. Nichols told Smith he felt like "he was already dead," but Smith urged him to consider the fact that he was still alive a "miracle."

"You're here in my apartment for some reason," she told him, saying he might be destined to be caught and to spread the word of God to fellow prisoners. She told him his escape from authorities had been a "miracle."

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This is one of the bravest people (man or woman) I have known of in my life. We will never know how many lives she saved by being level headed enough to get through this nightmare. I am really impressed. I only hope I would be able to make it through what she did as well in a situation like this. But I doubt very much that I could. My hat is off to her.