Georgia State Police troopers, who saved his life, escorted him home.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bennett Dornelas had his guardian angels with him when he left the burn center at Augusta Doctors Hospital this week.
Georgia State Police troopers, who saved his life, escorted him home.
Bennett has been in the hospital’s intensive care unit since May, when his father allegedly kidnapped him, poured gasoline on him and set his car on fire, leaving the 3-year-old with severe burns.
RELATED: South Carolina father suspected of kidnapping 3-year-old son, leading authorities to track him to Georgia, then setting the car on fire with son still inside
According to Anderson County Sheriff’s deputies, the incident began at a residence on Harris Avenue in Anderson County, South Carolina, where the father, identified by GSP officers as 32-year-old Joshua Bennett Dornelas, allegedly violently assaulted the mother of his child.
The suspect then allegedly kidnapped his son, leading to a pursuit that crossed the Georgia line on Interstate 85 around 1 p.m., with Georgia State Police involved.
GSP issued a news release in May explaining that Hart County officers attempted to stop the vehicle when it first crossed into the state line. A pursuit then ensued, with GSP officers becoming the primary agency involved.
Officers also attempted a box-in tactic to stop the man’s vehicle, but were unsuccessful.
GSP also said Dornelas had threatened to kill the child.
Authorities in Georgia said the suspect was traveling at 55 mph when he intentionally set the car on fire with a child inside, then jumped out of the driver’s side window.
The vehicle then crashed into an embankment near mile marker 166 and became fully engulfed in flames, according to GSP.
“After a horrific and unfortunate incident, Bennett suffered third degree burns over 90 percent of his little body,” his family said in an online fundraiser.
Bennett Dornelas, a 3-year-old boy with severe burns, and the GSP officers who saved his life
GSP officers and other law enforcement agencies were able to extinguish the fire and rescue a 3-year-old boy who suffered severe burns.
After rushing Bennett to the hospital, the GSP officers who saved his life continued to support him.
When they found out his release date, everyone came to the hospital to bring him toys that had been donated by local residents.
“SFC Fleming, SGT Dean, CPL Andrews, CPL Gundy, TFC2 Green, TFC2 Anderson and TFC1 Platts had the honor of delivering a care package to 3-year-old Bennett Dornelas and his family at the JMS Burn Center at Doctors Hospital in Augusta, Georgia. Bennett was released from the hospital this morning and headed home, but this care package was just the start of a great day for him!” said Sergeant Ray Dean, National Guard.
Bennett will need round-the-clock medical support to recover.
Officers will support him at every stage of his recovery.
