HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Fla. — A 9-year-old boy who survived being put in a fire by a man who thought he was "possessed" lost all his belongings just before Christmas. But before being reunited with his family in Kansas, first responders and law enforcement in Highlands and Polk counties came together to make sure the boy had "one heck of a Christmas surprise."
In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Highlands County Sheriff's Office said people from both counties made sure the 9-year-old didn't go home empty-handed.
"He was presented with so many great Christmas presents, he probably still hasn't stopped smiling," the sheriff's office said in its post.
The boy received video games, toys and a laptop. Just as important, the boy was gifted two suitcases full of clothes.
"You got me Crocs? They burned my Crocs!" the boy reportedly said when he opened one of the suitcases. The sheriff's office noted he also received a pair of Nike Air Force Ones that "were a big hit!"
Before these physical gifts were given to him, the sheriff's office said he got another much-needed gift earlier this week in the form of Therapy Dog Stella. The agency said Stella was with the boy during the "difficult" interview process about what happened to him. He was given a Stella plushie to help him through this tough time.
But the boy clearly has a huge heart, because the sheriff's office said that while he was staying at the DCF facility, he met a "little friend who fell in love with the stuffed animal." And what did he do? He gave the Stella plushie to the other child, "so they would be happy," he said. The sheriff's office made a point to make sure he got a replacement plushie before going home.
"We want to thank everyone in both counties (and there were MANY) who chipped in to make this sweet little boy smile during such a difficult time for him," the sheriff's office said.
On Tuesday, authorities were called to the intersection of Bay Blossom Drive and U.S. 98 in Sebring after reports of people burning debris on the side of the road. When first responders arrived, they noticed something suspicious and called law enforcement to investigate.
Deputies say they found 39-year-old Richard Ham armed with two metal rods. After refusing to obey deputies' orders to put down the rods and tasing didn't work, Ham reportedly hit one of the deputies on the head. The other deputy shot Ham. He died at the hospital.
The investigation led investigators to learn Ham and the mother of the 9-year-old were burning the child's belongings because they thought he was possessed by a demon. Witnesses told deputies Ham even put the child into the fire and covered him with a blanket that caught fire. Thankfully, the boy was not seriously hurt and survived.
The child and his mother, 30-year-old Lakenya Phillips, were listed as missing and endangered out of Kansas on Dec. 6, deputies said. Investigators aren't sure when or why they arrived in Highlands County.