This Minnesota man saved a kidnapped girl and then gave her family the reward money

In news that reminds us that there is absolutely still good in this world, a 15-year-old girl who was kidnapped was saved by a man in Minnesota. And the reward the man received for finding her? He immediately gave the money to the girl and her family.

It was a regular day for Minnesota resident Earl Melchert, but on his way home from work on September 5th, he noticed something strange moving in his field of vision and quickly decided to investigate. While speaking to The New York Times, Earl said at first he thought it just a deer, but when he looked closer he realized it was a young girl.

“I could make out her face, and I went, ‘Oh my gosh, this is the gal from Alexandria,’ Melchert said. “It’d been on the news, it’d been online. It went national. It was on posters, in stores, her face, her picture. Right away I recognized her.

That young girl was Jasmine Block. She was kidnapped from her home by Thomas Barker, a family friend. Barker showed up to Block’s home asking for her help with a family issue and because she knew him, she went along with him. But when they got to his house, he restrained her with zip ties and sexually and physically assaulted her with two other men.

By some miracle, or sheer determination, Jasmine eventually managed to escape her captors and swam across a lake near Melchert’s house and started running through the field, which is when he saw her.

There was a reward of $7,000 being offered by the Minnesota police to anyone who could provide information on Block’s whereabouts, so when she was found by Melchert, they decided to give him the money. But he had a better idea. As soon as he received the check, he gave it to Block, along with a big hug.

“The family needs the money, he said. “To me, yeah, that’s a lot of money, but they need it way worse than I do.

The Alexandria Police Department posted the story on their Facebook page and this one incredible act of kindness has inspired so many, all over the internet.

“He believes that young lady that came running towards him that September day is the real hero,” Chief of Police Wyffels wrote. “Thank you Earl, it is people like you that make this world a better place.”

We agree: No one should ever have to go through what Jasmine Block did, but we are happy there are people like Earl in this world who are so willing to help.