A gospel song saved a 10-year-old Atlanta boy from his kidnapper, prompting a number of organizations in the area to team up and offer a $10,000 reward for an investigation, Yahoo News reported.
Willie Myrick was grabbed by a man while he was playing with his pet Chihuahua in his front yard. Upon spotting a few dollars near a tree, Myrick was forced into a four-door Honda Civic as he walked over to the money.
"He was cursing at me, telling me to shut up, and didn't want to hear a word from me," Willie recalled to WSB-TV in Atlanta. "He said if I told anyone he would hurt me, like, in a bad way."
After driving around for three hours, the man left Willie on the side of a road in East Point, Ga.
According to the fourth grader, the reason the man released him is because Willie irritated him with gospel music, Yahoo News reported.
By singing the track, "Every Praise" by Hezekiah Walker repeatedly, the boy was able to annoy the kidnapper enough to set him free.
Having been stranded miles away from his home, Willie sought help by going door-to-door. When he was turned away by one person, an elderly man across the street called the police and contacted Willie's guardian.
Although Willie wasn't physically injured in the situation, he was still sent to a hospital in order to be examined before returning back home.
"Community leaders in Atlanta are now stepping up to help find Willie's kidnapper," Yahoo News reported. "According to WSB, a group of churches, civic organizations, and businesses are offering the $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the kidnapper."
"Our concern is not just the city of Atlanta boundaries," said Michael Langford, speaking for the coalition behind the reward. "It's the society in general. It's metro Atlanta. We've seen a number of attacks."
While the investigation is continued by the authorities, Willie's family has praised his love of gospel music for saving his life.
