An Illinois woman is crediting the popular word game Wordle for saving her from a dangerous hostage situation.
80-year-old Denyse Holt of Lincolnwood, Illinois awoke to a nude man armed with scissors around 1:00 AM on February 6.
The man, later identified by police as James H. Davis III, proceeded to hold Holt hostage for about 17 hours.
Despite the situation, Holt was able to keep her wits:
“I was trying to survive that’s all. He said ‘I won’t harm you or molest you.’”
The intruder ordered Holt around her home, threatening her life and forcing her to take a bath.
CBS Chicago described the harrowing details Holt shared with them:
"They got in and out of the bath—her night gown soaked. The man then dragging her around the house, disconnecting phones, leaving trails of blood."
"He had gashes from the broken window he used to get into Holt’s Lincolnwood home."
Davis III eventually barricaded Holt in a windowless basement bathroom, as he made himself comfortable in her house.
Meanwhile, Holt's daughter Meredith Holt-Caldwell noticed something wasn't right as she started her day hundreds of miles away in Seattle, Washington.
She hadn't gotten the usual daily Wordle update from her mother. Holt-Caldwell commented to CBS Chicago:
“I’m across the country and I noticed this.”
Concerned, Holt-Caldwell called Lincolnwood police department and requested a well being check on her mom.
As reported by CBS Chicago, a SWAT team was eventually called to Holt's home, and Davis III was subdued with a stun gun:
"He has been charged with home invasion with a dangerous weapon, aggravated kidnapping while armed with a dangerous weapon and aggravated assault against a peace officer."
Holt was taken to safety and was determined to be physically unharmed.
The potentially deadly scenario was the last thing on Holt-Caldwell's mind:
“I never thought in a million years this is what was happening, but it was."
Holt and her relatives believe the ordeal is a lesson on how important it is to stay in touch with loved ones.
Twitter user's were amazed by how Wordle helped save Holt's life:
That\u2019s just incredible.— DG (@DG) 1644508584
Wonderful Wordle..who knew it was so lifesaving so glad she is well— Maggie Magoo (@Maggie Magoo) 1644563799
Wow #wordle— Moms #climateaction Now! (@Moms #climateaction Now!) 1644623936
SHOCK— Shannon (@Shannon) 1644554710
Since the story had a happy ending, some lightly joked about the app's involvement in saving a life.
Is there nothing Wordle can't do!?— EGCollins (@EGCollins) 1644554207
@alisonlaiMD @NikitaK_Singh FYI -\nif I don\u2019t send a daily wordle, send help.— Fartoon Siad (@Fartoon Siad) 1644555317
wordle to the rescue— #CancelSpotify (@#CancelSpotify) 1644558525
So glad she's safe. As Wordle says on days like today: "phew."\nWordle 237 6/6— ShelBryn (@ShelBryn) 1644558142
Wordle has really taken the internet by storm, and has been credited with changing people's lives for the better.
As reported by The Atlanta Georgia Constitution, word puzzle games like Wordle challenge your brain and can help improve memory, attention and cognitive function.
