U.S.

Police: Announcement imminent on 5-year-old Alabama hostage

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Members of the community gather to pray for a 5-year-old taken hostage, in Midland City, Ala., Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. Authorities say Jim Lee Dykes, 65 — a decorated Vietnam-era veteran known as Jimmy to neighbors — gunned down a school bus driver and then abducted a 5-year-old boy from the bus, taking him to an underground bunker on his rural property. The driver, 66-year-old Charles Albert Poland Jr., who was shot trying to protect children on his bus, was buried Sunday. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (The Associated Press)

Lauren Higginson, a student on Charles "Chuck" Poland's bus, hugs her teddy bear during the ceremony to honor Poland at the Ozark Civic Center on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in Ozark, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (The Associated Press)

Family members embrace during the funeral service of Charles “Chuck” Poland in Ozark, Ala., Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013. Authorities say Jim Lee Dykes, 65 — a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War known as Jimmy to neighbors — gunned down Poland, a school bus driver, and then abducted a 5-year-old boy from the bus, taking him to an underground bunker on his rural property. (AP Photo/Dothan Eagle, Danny Tindell) (The Associated Press)

Authorities say they will be making a major announcement in the case of a 5-year-old who is being held hostage in an underground bunker in Alabama.

The news conference will be held Monday afternoon in Midland City. Police say 65-year-old Jim Dykes has been holding the boy hostage for days.

Before the news conference Monday, an ambulance that had been parked near the scene could be seen driving away. However, it was not clear if anyone was inside, and the vehicle did not have its sirens or emergency lights on.

Daryle Hendry, who lives about a quarter-mile from where Dykes was holed up, says he heard a boom followed by a gunshot this afternoon. It was not immediately known what may have caused the noise.