A 15 year old girl had been held captive by three men for 29 days until she managed to escape. She swam across a lake and ran across a grassy field. Earl Melchert spotted her in the field behind his house and recognized her from a missing teenager poster. He immediately called 9-1-1 and waited with her until she was taken to the hospital. Melchert was rewarded 7,000 dollars for helping her. But Melchert refused to accept his reward. Instead he gave the 7,000 dollars to Alexandria’s family. He felt that the family deserved it more than him. But, Melchert had retired a only a week before and could’ve used the money, although he felt “it wouldn’t be right”. The family cannot thank Earl enough for his act of bravery. The three men were arrested
