Child who hid in closet during home invasion meets 911 dispatcher who helped save her

ORLANDO, Fla. — An 11-year-old girl hid in a closet and called 911, when three robbers broke into her Orange County home, authorities said.

Wednesday, Ashley Bermudez got to meet the woman on the other side of the phone who walked her through the situation and helped save her.

Ashley excited and anxious as she waited for Michelle Fernandez to arrive.

“I’m going to be very happy and I’m going to thank her because what she did is really, really, really important to me,” she said.

For Fernandez, the meet was even more emotional.

“It’s very incredible,” she said. “I always get to see the bad people, never the good people, the people that I save, and it’s a very good feeling.”

Orange County Sheriff's spokeswoman Jane Watrel said it was just after 1 p.m. Tuesday on Baltimore Woods Lane in the Meadow Woods subdivision, when Ashley saw an adult and two juveniles break into the home. She hid and called for help.

“I was just in the living room when I heard some constant knocking,” Ashley said.

“They (the robbers) were trying to open my door, because I locked my door. I locked myself in my room,” she said.

She said the robbers kicked down her door, saw her hiding in the closet and then took off.

Watrel said the suspects left in a stolen car, but a deputy spotted them and began following the car.

Investigators said the men drove about four miles on State Road 417 and hit a flatbed truck as they exited onto Boggy Creek Road. The SUV went off road and under the 417.

The three people in the car, one adult and two juveniles, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Ramon Franklin, 18, was arrested at the scene. Antonio Cason, 14, and Audi Gonzalez, 16, were arrested after they attempted to flee on foot.

Authorities said they are investigating whether there is a fourth suspect, as reported by Bermudez. Officers said stolen property has been recovered from the vehicle.

The three suspects were arrested on burglary and grand theft charges.

The driver of the truck had minor injuries.

Ashley was not harmed in the incident, and she credits Fernandez for helping her stay safe.

“She was kind of a life saver to me because, will, I didn’t know what to do and it was very scary for me because it was the first time that had ever happened.

“And I hope it’s my last.”

Cox Media Group