14-year-old boy heard banging and screams at the door — his split-second decision saved a woman and his family

The boy was alone at home with his little siblings but made a brave decision and stuck with it, saving many lives.

PUBLISHED MAY 29, 2025

(L) Teenage boy suspiciously looking up after hearing something. (Representative Cover Image Source: Unsplash| Ksenia Obukhova), (R) Stranger knocking on door. (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexles| Feyza Altun)

Tigger warning: This story contains themes of sexual assault that some readers may find distressing.

It is crucial to be vigilant and cautious while dealing with strangers, especially if they approach you off guard. Kids are often urged not to open doors to people they don’t know. 14-year-old James Persyn III, 11-year-old Acelin and 2-year-old Angus, children of Tiffany Ramon and James Persyn Jr., were home alone when someone approached their door and screamed for help, per Michigan Live. The children were unsure what to do, but the 14-year-old made an impromptu decision that ended up saving the woman’s life and uncovering a serious case.

Woman knocking on door. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Photo by Newman Photographs)

The trio was at home around 10 pm and heard a stranger yelling and banging on their door. She repeatedly mentioned that she was kidnapped and someone was trying to kill her. Confused and scared, the kids didn’t know how to respond. However, they assessed the scene quickly and made the impromptu decision to let the woman in. She was a Central Michigan University student and claimed that she was kidnapped. She reportedly has wounds and bruises and had been bound with tape. The teenage boy helped free her from the tape. The kids quickly locked their door and ran to hide. The 14-year-old also grabbed his hunting knife and stayed alert.

Abducted woman bound with tape. (Representative Image Source: Unsplash| Photo by James Kovin)

Eric Ramsey, the suspect, came rushing to the door and began banging on it, asking the kids to let him in. However, they stuck together and refused. Isabella County Sheriff Leo Mioduszewski mentioned that the man had kidnapped the woman at gunpoint from her campus, took her to his home and raped her. He then forced her into a vehicle and threatened to kill her. Luckily, the woman managed to escape from the moving vehicle with a few injuries, after which she rushed to the kids' home. “It was scary,” the siblings recalled. “I didn’t know what was going to happen. I could tell by her voice that it was really bad,” the little girl noted.

Young man opening door in suspicious environment. (Representative Image Source: Unsplash| Photo by Cold Fusion)

James gave his phone to the woman, who quickly called 911 for help. Soon after, he called his dad and informed him of the situation. The man was getting his wife from work and immediately rushed over to the house. In the meantime, unbeknownst to the kids, Ramsey had reportedly sprayed gasoline and tried to burn the house. Luckily, the dad arrived and quickly put out the fire. Ramsey escaped and was chased by the police, during which he injured three officers. As per the report, he was shot and killed a few hours later. It was later discovered that Ramon knew Ramsey as a friend but never thought he would be a felon.

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“It’s weird, I’d been in contact with him, I’ve said 'hi' to him,” the mom recalled. However, the man had been in jail for five years after being charged with four felonies, including assault. “It’s very shocking,” Ramon said. The woman thanked the kids for allowing her to take shelter in their home, per Mid-Michigan now on FOX66 & NBC25. The family later reconsidered the idea of safety and remained protected from unprecedented situations like these.