“There's Help”: Mom Held Hostage Recounts Pizza Hut Rescue

A Florida woman who sent a secret message asking for help in an online pizza order while being held hostage, discussed her rescue in hopes her story will save someone else. 

"There's help even if you don't think you have anybody," Cheryl Treadway said. "Somebody out there will want to help you," Treadway said. "You are worth it."

Treadway said her boyfriend, Ethan Nickerson, was holding held at knife point all day on Tuesday. When her kids came home from school hungry he allowed her to use her phone to order from Pizza Hut on a smartphone app.

She added this message to her order: "Please help. Get 911 to me. Hostage help!"

The employees alerted police.

Treadway showed NBC affiliate WFLA bruises on her arm that she says Nickerson gave her during the ordeal. Treadway preferred not to show her face in the video.

Nickerson was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon without intent to kill, battery, false imprisonment and obstructing justice by depriving communication to law enforcement.

Contact Us