Child’s note to bus driver helps save mom held captive by man, Iowa cops say
A mother being abused and held against her will was rescued after her child passed a note to a school bus driver, Iowa authorities say.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said the woman had been abused throughout the night and was unable to call 911. As her child was going to school Sept. 24, she gave the child a note that read “Call 911,” instructing them to give it to their bus driver.
The child passed the note to the driver, who alerted authorities, according to the sheriff’s office.
When deputies responded to the Westgate home, they found a woman had been “seriously assaulted” by 29-year-old Glenroy Stefand Miller, the sheriff said.
“At one point Miller started to take her to the hospital and then turned around and forced her home after realizing he would go to jail if he did,” deputies said. “Miller continued to assault the victim throughout the night causing serious injuries and threatened to kill her by holding a knife to her throat and wrists.”
According to a criminal complaint obtained by KGAN, the woman had been kicked by Miller, breaking two of her ribs and puncturing a lung.
She also had bruising to her face, KCRG reported, but was rescued thanks to her first-grader.
The motive for the attack is unclear. Authorities called the incident a domestic situation but did not share the relationship between Miller and the victim.
Miller was charged with domestic abuse assault, willful injury and kidnapping, according to the sheriff. Because authorities said he took the victim’s phone and prevented her from getting help, he was also charged with obstructions of an emergency communication device.
The sheriff’s office said Miller, who is from the Bahamas, is being held on a detainer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Westgate is about a 65-mile drive northwest from Cedar Rapids.
This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 9:15 AM with the headline "Child’s note to bus driver helps save mom held captive by man, Iowa cops say."