Leslie Fiet, owner of Mini’s Cupcakes in Salt Lake City, was working in her store when she received an Amber Alert about a missing child in a black SUV.
Three-year-old Bella Martinez had been reported missing after her father, Pedro, stepped into a store earlier that day, only for his vehicle to be stolen and driven away with Bella still inside.
Recalling having seen a vehicle matching the description in the carpark of her business, Leslie checked outside and discovered that the licence plates matched up.
After getting over the initial shock of her discovery, Leslie decided to take swift action in a bid to save the child’s life.
“I just dropped my phone, ran out the door, and dove in through the [passenger’s side] window. I’m thinking I’m not going to grab the door, because if somebody’s in the car, they might try to drive away. My whole reaction is just to grab the child, get her in the shop, so she can be safe,” recalled Leslie.
As it turned out, the driver had abandoned the car, and Leslie was able to rescue the little girl, who was “hyperventilating”.
After locking herself and Bella inside her store, Leslie contacted the police, gave the child a Care Bears toy and read Puss In Boots to her in a bid to calm her down.
Half an hour later, Bella’s relieved parents arrived on the scene to be reunited with their little one.
When word of Leslie’s heroic act spread, members of the local community rallied to show their gratitude. The result – her business has been booming ever since, and friends are having to help her out to meet the demand for baked goods.
Leslie has since shared a number of gorgeous photos with a delighted little Bella to Instagram.
What a courageous woman. We are so delighted that there was a happy ending to this story.
