# Handwritten ‘Help us’ note taped to window led to terrified children hiding from violence

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/handwritten-help-us-note-taped-to-window-led-to-terrified-children-hiding-from-violence/
- Published: 2026-11-11T16:48:36+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T17:03:33+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16284237/Handwritten-Help-note-taped-window-led-terrified-children-hiding-violence.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- A child’s text prompted relatives to call 911.
- Police found the children with a drone.
- They escaped as officers arrived; a man was arrested.

## Summary

A handwritten “Help us” note held up at a Florida home led police to children who said they were frightened and being prevented from leaving. The children escaped while police were outside, and a 33-year-old man later surrendered and was arrested.

Family members called 911 on 26 October after one child sent their grandmother a worrying text. Kissimmee police used a drone to locate the children, then sent a SWAT team; police said the man, Andre Janard Smithson, was charged with false imprisonment and had an outstanding warrant. His relationship to the children and the warrant’s details were not disclosed.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.