1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,759 Speaker 1: My older sister woke up to get Bella ready for school, 2 00:00:02,799 --> 00:00:03,520 and she wasn't there. 3 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:07,559 Speaker 2: Tension began rising as Amanda couldn't find a trace of 4 00:00:07,599 --> 00:00:08,160 her sister. 5 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,279 Speaker 1: Her dad stopped at the elementary school to say, hey, 6 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:13,560 did Anna Bala get dropped off? 7 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 2: But no one had seen Bella. Panic set in for 8 00:00:17,039 --> 00:00:19,879 Bella's dad. It was as if she had vanished into 9 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:20,600 thin air. 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,199 Speaker 3: This is The Miracle Files. 11 00:00:27,719 --> 00:00:30,399 Speaker 4: I'm Emily Jones and I'm Holly Worthington. 12 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 5: We're two sisters who love a captivating true story, but 13 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:36,679 we're also seeking more light in our lives. 14 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:40,359 Speaker 2: So we're on a mission to find and share unforgettable, 15 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:45,079 uplifting stories of God's miracles. We hope you'll join us 16 00:00:45,119 --> 00:00:46,960 on this journey. 17 00:00:48,439 --> 00:00:50,079 Speaker 4: Welcome back to the Miracle Files. 18 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 5: I don't often use this word, and I don't use 19 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,679 it lightly, but this episode is truly special. 20 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 4: Yeah. 21 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 2: I love all of our episodes, but this is one 22 00:01:00,719 --> 00:01:03,560 that I guarantee is going to stick with you for 23 00:01:03,679 --> 00:01:04,439 a long time. 24 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 5: It will and please stay after because we have some 25 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,680 really important things to share with you. 26 00:01:10,239 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, and before we get started, just a little parental 27 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,159 heads up. This one does deal with some mature topics 28 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:20,319 like abuse and crime, but I let my kids listen. 29 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,000 It provided some really good teaching opportunities. 30 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:26,159 Speaker 4: So it's up to you. Okay, let's get started. 31 00:01:26,599 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 3: Let's go. 32 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,079 Speaker 2: Our story starts in June of two thousand and three. 33 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 3: Five year old. 34 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,599 Speaker 2: Bella lived between two homes because her parents were divorced. 35 00:01:37,239 --> 00:01:40,599 At her dad's house, she lived with her older sister, Amanda, 36 00:01:40,799 --> 00:01:45,040 who was twelve. They also had another sister, Clara, who 37 00:01:45,159 --> 00:01:46,159 was nine. 38 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 4: And lived with their mom. 39 00:01:47,959 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: Though Clara didn't have the same father, the three sisters 40 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,400 shared a strong bond, and Bella loved it when Clara 41 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,519 would visit her and Amanda at her dad's house. Bella's 42 00:01:58,519 --> 00:02:02,079 single father was doing his to care for his two daughters, 43 00:02:02,519 --> 00:02:06,120 but was struggling to make ends meet, so when his bandmate, 44 00:02:06,519 --> 00:02:09,280 Bill Mix, offered to move in and help with the 45 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:15,879 kids and household expenses, Bella's father gratefully accepted. Soon Bill 46 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:19,680 began moving his stuff into the house, including bringing his 47 00:02:19,759 --> 00:02:24,439 pet parrot with him. Bill was soft spoken and sweet 48 00:02:24,439 --> 00:02:28,400 with the kids, especially five year old Bella. In fact, 49 00:02:28,759 --> 00:02:32,120 he would often take Bella and her two sisters, Clara 50 00:02:32,159 --> 00:02:35,240 and Amanda, out to dinner and would buy them gifts, 51 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:40,520 although he bought more gifts for Bella. When Clara visited 52 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,680 her sisters, she began to notice a trend. Bill was 53 00:02:44,719 --> 00:02:47,680 doing more and more with five year old Bella, such 54 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:50,280 as dropping her off at school in the mornings, and 55 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,520 as time went on, it became clear to Clara that 56 00:02:53,599 --> 00:02:57,879 Bill was giving Bella significantly more attention than the other girls. 57 00:02:58,479 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 1: Here's Clara, and I was over there for a Memorial 58 00:03:02,319 --> 00:03:04,919 Day and we were out in the front yard playing 59 00:03:05,039 --> 00:03:07,879 like a kiddie pool or something, and he called her 60 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:13,000 inside and I just kept playing and she comes back out, 61 00:03:13,039 --> 00:03:16,919 but instead of coming out to the pool, she went 62 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,120 and just sat on a chair on the porch, and 63 00:03:20,159 --> 00:03:22,919 I remember thinking it was weird, and I went and asked, Hey, 64 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,639 what did he say? And she went to go say 65 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:28,719 something and said, oh, I forgot. 66 00:03:29,879 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 2: Bella seemed a little off, But though the moment fell 67 00:03:32,599 --> 00:03:35,400 strange to Clara, she didn't think too much of it, 68 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,639 as most kids would do. She went back to playing 69 00:03:38,639 --> 00:03:42,000 in the pool, and then things took a darker turn. 70 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: It was early June. My older sister woke up to 71 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,240 get Bella ready for school, and she wasn't there, so 72 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:52,039 she's running all over the house looking for her. 73 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,159 Speaker 2: Tension began rising as Amana couldn't find a trace of 74 00:03:56,199 --> 00:03:59,800 her sister. She ran into her dad's bedroom to see 75 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:00,639 if Bella could. 76 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,599 Speaker 1: Be there, and you know, she's not here. Where is she? 77 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,719 And they didn't know. So her dad sent our older 78 00:04:08,719 --> 00:04:12,680 sister to school, and he stopped at the elementary school 79 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,479 to say, hey, did Anna Bala get dropped off? 80 00:04:16,199 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 2: But no one had seen Bella. It was as if 81 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,879 she had vanished into thin air. Bella's father ran back home. 82 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:27,240 He searched the house again, this time checking Bill's bedroom. 83 00:04:28,199 --> 00:04:31,120 What he found there made his heart race with fear. 84 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,079 A letter sat on Bill's bed. It said that Bill 85 00:04:35,399 --> 00:04:39,680 had kidnapped Bella. Bill explained that he took Bella to 86 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,879 give her a better life. Even more chilling, in the letter, 87 00:04:44,319 --> 00:04:51,040 Bill offered Bella's father a disturbing exchange for Bella. 88 00:04:49,639 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 1: And in return, her dad my sister's dad could keep 89 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,680 the parrot, Bill's pep parrot, and he would understand if 90 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:01,959 her dad strangled this parrot out of anger, but that 91 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:03,839 was his to leave and return. 92 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 2: The letter gave an instant glimpse into the maniacal thinking 93 00:05:08,439 --> 00:05:12,279 that was taking place in Bill's mind. Panic set in 94 00:05:12,319 --> 00:05:15,680 for Bella's dad, and he hurried to call the police. 95 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:16,959 When Bella's mom got. 96 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 3: The news, she cried out in terror. 97 00:05:19,519 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 2: She immediately dropped to her knees and began begging God to. 98 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:23,519 Speaker 4: Save her baby. 99 00:05:24,519 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 2: The officer put in charge of the case set out 100 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,279 an Amber alert for all of California and Nevada. With 101 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:34,560 little Bella in his car, Bill drove north across the 102 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:39,439 California border. He was already heading through Nevada and would 103 00:05:39,519 --> 00:05:44,079 soon be beyond the reach of the Amber alert. Meanwhile, 104 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,240 over five hundred miles away from Riverside, in the small 105 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:52,720 town of Richfield, Utah, Lisa Hilton was having a bad day. 106 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,399 She had three young children and was supposed to be 107 00:05:56,439 --> 00:05:58,879 meeting up with her mom and two sisters to help 108 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:01,879 her sister move at one but everything seemed to be 109 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:02,519 going wrong. 110 00:06:03,199 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 3: Here's Lisa. 111 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 6: The babysitter backed out, and I'm like, oh great, Now 112 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,399 what am I going to do? I honestly thought I 113 00:06:10,439 --> 00:06:12,800 had another babysitter, and she backed out on me like 114 00:06:13,319 --> 00:06:15,720 twenty minutes before I had to go. So I called 115 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:18,800 a couple other people and nobody was able to help me, 116 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:21,040 So I'm getting a little frustrated. 117 00:06:21,879 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 2: Lisa finally called her sister in law and asked if 118 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,439 she could help babysit. Her sister in law couldn't do 119 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,959 it right away, but said she would be available later 120 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:34,759 after teaching piano lessons. That's fine, Lisa thought. Nothing was 121 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,920 going according to plan anyway. As Lisa scrambled to find 122 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:43,759 a sitter. Back in Riverside, California, Bella's nine year old sister, Clara, 123 00:06:43,959 --> 00:06:47,319 was surprised when her grandparents picked her up early from school. 124 00:06:48,199 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: My grandparents picked me up from school early and I 125 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,959 didn't know why, and they just were picking you up early. 126 00:06:57,040 --> 00:06:58,720 We're going to go home to our house. We're going 127 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,439 to play. And I got there and I went into 128 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:04,079 a family room and they said, you know, you can 129 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,120 watch TV, but please don't change the channel. If you 130 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,399 need to, please come get us. I thought there was 131 00:07:10,439 --> 00:07:14,319 some adult movie on. I'm like, okay, but no, it 132 00:07:14,319 --> 00:07:15,920 was an Amber alert on the news ark. 133 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:20,399 Speaker 2: Bella's parents didn't want Clara to know that her sister 134 00:07:20,439 --> 00:07:23,680 had been kidnapped, but they were sick with worry themselves. 135 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,160 They hoped and prayed that someone would see their Amber 136 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:31,120 alert but so far nothing they knew. The more time 137 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,399 went by, the less likely they were to ever find 138 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,600 their daughter. The worst part about it, there was absolutely 139 00:07:38,639 --> 00:07:44,079 nothing they could do. In Richfield, Utah. Lisa felt frazzled. 140 00:07:44,759 --> 00:07:48,639 Now three hours behind schedule, she was finally on her way. 141 00:07:49,399 --> 00:07:51,800 She drove across town and was nearing her sister in 142 00:07:51,839 --> 00:07:56,199 law's house when something caught her eye. Just before turning 143 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,839 into her sister in law's cul de sac, she passed 144 00:07:58,839 --> 00:08:02,199 a church house. On the lawn of the church set 145 00:08:02,199 --> 00:08:04,120 two individuals. 146 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,160 Speaker 6: And I'd make the turn to go into the cult 147 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:10,800 to sack, and right off the bat, I noticed this 148 00:08:10,839 --> 00:08:13,920 little girl and she's eating what appears to be a 149 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:18,360 little happy mill or something, and this older gentleman and 150 00:08:18,399 --> 00:08:21,680 I thought, huh, really doesn't look like you should be 151 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,319 a grandpa. I'm just kind of being judgmental, but it 152 00:08:25,439 --> 00:08:28,839 just it kind of struck me, like, what are you doing? 153 00:08:29,879 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 3: Lisa kept driving. 154 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,039 Speaker 6: I said, I felt judgmental because he had long gray 155 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:37,080 hair and kind of looked a little rough. And I thought, 156 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,360 which I shouldn't be that judgment be because I had 157 00:08:40,399 --> 00:08:42,360 an older brother that kind of looked the same way, 158 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:45,600 long hair and a little rough and the biggest teddy 159 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:48,240 bear ever. And I honestly thought that too. I thought, Okay, 160 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:49,399 you know what, he kind of looks like your brother. 161 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:50,000 So quit that. 162 00:08:50,759 --> 00:08:55,799 Speaker 2: Lisa shrugged off any concerns. But then something unexpected happened. 163 00:08:57,320 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 6: Very strongly, miss where it said, she does not belong 164 00:09:02,279 --> 00:09:06,919 with him. I'm not what what do you mean? And 165 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,879 I kind of looked back as I'm making the turn 166 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:14,200 to go up her street, and it's like, she does 167 00:09:14,279 --> 00:09:16,960 not belong with him. And as I'm driving the few 168 00:09:17,399 --> 00:09:19,360 couple of blocks up the street to get to my 169 00:09:19,399 --> 00:09:23,679 sister in law's house, it became stronger and stronger. She 170 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:26,240 does not belong with him. 171 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,759 Speaker 2: The voice in Lisa's head, both quiet and powerful at 172 00:09:29,759 --> 00:09:34,679 the same time, made her heart pound. Still, Lisa doubted 173 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,840 herself and tried to shake the feeling. When Lisa reached 174 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:40,919 her sister in law's house, she unfastened her son from 175 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:43,720 the car seat. As her sister in law came out 176 00:09:43,759 --> 00:09:47,080 to meet Lisa. Her sister in law could immediately tell 177 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:48,480 that Lisa was shaken. 178 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 6: Up, and she's like, what's going on? Lisaid, there's this 179 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,200 little girl and this guy down at the church, and 180 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,519 I know she doesn't belong with him? And she goes, 181 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:01,919 how do you know that? And I said, I know that. 182 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:06,159 I can feel the spirit whispering that. And I started shaken, 183 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:07,799 and she's like, what are you going to do? And 184 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:09,080 I'm like, I need to do something. 185 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 2: Lisa reached for the phone and began to die on 186 00:10:12,279 --> 00:10:15,840 nine one one, But then her fingers grose. What would 187 00:10:15,879 --> 00:10:18,600 she even say that a man was having lunch with 188 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:22,559 a child. It's not like he was doing anything obviously wrong. 189 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:27,679 Would they think she was overreacting crazy? Even as uncertainty 190 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,639 crept in, that same quiet but insistent voice rose within 191 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:36,879 her again, she does not belong with him. Whether it 192 00:10:36,919 --> 00:10:40,240 sounded ridiculous or not, Lisa knew she couldn't ignore it 193 00:10:40,279 --> 00:10:43,879 any longer. She settled on calling the non emergency number 194 00:10:43,879 --> 00:10:45,720 for the Richfield City Police Department. 195 00:10:47,159 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 6: So I called that number and I said, hey, I 196 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:53,120 just feel like somebody needs to check this out, and 197 00:10:53,159 --> 00:10:55,200 she goes, okay, we can we call it a welfare check. 198 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:56,879 We can do that. Where are you at? And I 199 00:10:56,919 --> 00:10:58,799 told her the location. I said, it's on the church 200 00:10:58,840 --> 00:11:01,320 Haslon at the end of fourth and it's a little 201 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:02,559 girl and the guy. And she goes well, how well 202 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:04,519 is a little girl? And I says, I don't know, 203 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,440 maybe four or five years old. She's pretty little, and 204 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,799 I said, but she just I just don't feel right 205 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:11,879 about it. And she goes, well, is there a vehicle there? 206 00:11:11,919 --> 00:11:13,559 And I said, well, you know, I actually have to 207 00:11:13,639 --> 00:11:15,440 drive past there again to get out of this cul 208 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,519 de sap. So I get back in my car and 209 00:11:18,519 --> 00:11:19,279 I'm talking to hers. 210 00:11:19,279 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 2: I'm driving nervously. Lisa neared the church house again. She 211 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:26,399 wasn't even sure if the older man and little girl 212 00:11:26,440 --> 00:11:28,519 would still be there, and she didn't know what to 213 00:11:28,519 --> 00:11:31,440 do if they were. As she came around the corner, 214 00:11:31,639 --> 00:11:35,279 she instantly spotted them. She gripped her steering wheel with 215 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:40,559 shaking hands. Lisa described what she saw to the dispatcher, and. 216 00:11:40,519 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 6: I told her, I said, hey, I'm coming up on it. 217 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,960 They're still there, and that feeling was still just so intense. 218 00:11:46,039 --> 00:11:49,200 I mean, I was just shaken and it really upset me. 219 00:11:49,919 --> 00:11:53,000 I told her it's a gray and burgundy pickup truck 220 00:11:53,039 --> 00:11:56,120 with a camper shell. They're from California, and she's like, 221 00:11:56,159 --> 00:11:57,519 can you read me a license plate? 222 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:01,600 Speaker 2: Lisa gave the dispatcher the license plate number in relief. 223 00:12:01,919 --> 00:12:06,159 Lisa watched as a police car approached the church. Whatever 224 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,200 the situation was, it. 225 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 3: Was now in the hands of the police. 226 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,879 Speaker 2: She drew in a deep breath, steadied herself, and continued 227 00:12:14,919 --> 00:12:16,639 the drive to her sister's house. 228 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 6: I get out of the car and I am still 229 00:12:19,039 --> 00:12:20,919 just shaking. And I walk in the door and my 230 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,799 mom and one of my older sisters said, and they're like, 231 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:26,480 what's going on? And I said, there's this little girl 232 00:12:26,639 --> 00:12:29,720 and this guy at the church house lawn and I 233 00:12:29,759 --> 00:12:32,480 said she doesn't belong with them. And my sister kind 234 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,200 of teased me, and she goes, so, did you call 235 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:37,240 the cops? It is, yes, I dad. She goes, it's 236 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:39,240 probably some grump and how many of you just kind 237 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:41,559 of being funny? And then she looked at me and 238 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:46,559 she goes, no, I can tell now she's you're right, 239 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,480 something's wrong. And she says, just the way your parents says, 240 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,600 the way you're acting, and I said, I know, I'm 241 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:53,639 just sick about it. 242 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:57,639 Speaker 2: Just then, Lisa received a call from an unknown number. 243 00:12:58,399 --> 00:13:01,279 Speaker 6: And I picked it up and I answered it and 244 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:06,759 Officer Trent Lloyd was his name. He's like, Lisa, how 245 00:13:06,799 --> 00:13:12,320 did you know? I said, what and how did you know? 246 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,080 Her name is Annabella and she is kidnapped at a riverside, California. 247 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:21,840 This morning. There was an ambrolert in California, Nevada, but 248 00:13:21,879 --> 00:13:24,840 there was not one in Utah. My mom and my 249 00:13:24,879 --> 00:13:27,039 sister came down in the hall and I was crying, 250 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:30,279 and they're like, what's the matter. She was kidnapped. This 251 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:35,320 guy kidnapped her. I just my Mom's like, hey, just 252 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,120 take a breath. And I couldn't stop shaking. And my 253 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,240 sister said, how did you know? And I said again, 254 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:45,279 this spirit was so strong, she does not belong with him. 255 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 2: In riverside, Bella's and Clara's family sat anxiously, waiting, praying, 256 00:13:52,879 --> 00:13:56,200 wondering if they would ever see their sweet Bella again. 257 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,320 And then the phone rang. They couldn't believe what the 258 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:06,200 police told them. Bella had been found. Clara's parents finally 259 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,080 explained to her what had happened and that her sister 260 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:13,120 Bella was no safe. Their tears and rejoicing were beyond 261 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:17,840 anything Clara had seen before. The Next day, back in Utah, 262 00:14:18,279 --> 00:14:21,600 Lisa received a call herself. On the other end was 263 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:25,360 a calm but serious voice informing her that Bella had 264 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:28,600 been placed in protective custody, and that her mother was 265 00:14:28,639 --> 00:14:31,519 on the way to the police station and asking to 266 00:14:31,559 --> 00:14:33,799 meet the woman who had saved her child. 267 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 4: Was such a. 268 00:14:36,279 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 6: Tender mean because the officers were there. The lady that 269 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,159 answered the phone, well, they're just crying. And I started crying. 270 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,720 And the mother walked in the room and she said, 271 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,399 when I received the phone call that my daughter was taken, 272 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:56,159 she says, I hnt my knees and just pleaded with 273 00:14:56,279 --> 00:15:00,120 God to find an angel to find my baby. And 274 00:15:00,159 --> 00:15:02,840 she said, and you were that angel. You were that angel. 275 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:07,559 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, Bella had already gone through some trauma, but it's 276 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,720 absolutely chilling to think about what would have happened to 277 00:15:10,759 --> 00:15:14,639 her if she hadn't been found. When she was inside 278 00:15:14,639 --> 00:15:17,639 the camper that Bella had been kidnapped in. The police 279 00:15:17,679 --> 00:15:21,679 found photographs and evidence of the terror that poor Bella 280 00:15:21,799 --> 00:15:22,720 had had to endure. 281 00:15:24,039 --> 00:15:26,919 Speaker 1: They also found love letters written to her, songs about 282 00:15:27,279 --> 00:15:30,080 written that he had wrote about her. I think he 283 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,480 thought he was in a romantic relationship with a five 284 00:15:32,519 --> 00:15:33,720 year old. He was forty eight. 285 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 2: Bella had gone through a nightmare and would now need 286 00:15:37,799 --> 00:15:41,080 time and therapy to heal but her family was so 287 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:44,840 incredibly grateful to have their sweet little girl home again. 288 00:15:45,559 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 3: And fortunately Bill Mix. 289 00:15:48,279 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 2: Would be going to prison where he could no longer 290 00:15:51,159 --> 00:15:52,559 hurt any child again. 291 00:15:53,559 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: So it was taken to trial and he was sentenced 292 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:03,320 to three hundred and fifty something years forty seven felony. 293 00:16:03,320 --> 00:16:09,279 Accounts the judge that sentenced him, there is a quote 294 00:16:09,639 --> 00:16:13,279 essentially saying he would do anything he could to virtually 295 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:15,360 guarantee that Mix would never see the light of day 296 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:17,240 outside of a prison for the rest of his life, 297 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,000 and then he goes on to say if that were 298 00:16:20,039 --> 00:16:23,360 to happen, civilization as we know it would have ceased 299 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:24,279 to exist. 300 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,399 Speaker 2: Bella's family considers it a miracle that their daughter and 301 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:32,799 sister was seen by Lisa on that fateful afternoon. Lisa 302 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:35,080 was truly their angel. 303 00:16:35,679 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: I'm on the I don't necessarily believe in God. I 304 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,600 am spiritual. I don't want to say religious, but I 305 00:16:43,639 --> 00:16:49,200 don't disbelieve. But if there was ever a time that 306 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,559 I believed in an act of God, it was then 307 00:16:54,639 --> 00:16:57,480 something in the universe just said this is not okay, 308 00:16:57,519 --> 00:17:01,039 We're going to stop this no, And I just think 309 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:04,720 it's it is. I think an act of God, if there, 310 00:17:05,039 --> 00:17:06,799 if I were to ever believe that, that's what that 311 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:09,480 would be, That's what that is. 312 00:17:10,839 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 2: Lisa credits the experience to God's define intervention with the 313 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:19,119 clarity of passing time. What Lisa thought was an inconvenient, 314 00:17:19,279 --> 00:17:22,839 frustrating morning became something entirely different. 315 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 6: So I finally sat down and started writing it out. 316 00:17:27,519 --> 00:17:30,799 And I can tell you from the moment I got 317 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,599 up that morning, I told you my day was planned out. 318 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,160 I had my day planned exactly how it was supposed 319 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,920 to go, and there were so many things that got 320 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,319 in my way, so many things that changed, besides just 321 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:48,000 the babysitter needing to run and help a neighbor with something, 322 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,640 taking phone calls that I wasn't planning on taking, you know, 323 00:17:51,839 --> 00:17:54,279 just all these things. I'm like, why is my day 324 00:17:54,319 --> 00:17:56,599 going this way? But as I sat down and wrote 325 00:17:56,599 --> 00:18:01,400 it out, I now saw that my Savior had placed 326 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:04,000 me where I needed to be at that time. If 327 00:18:04,039 --> 00:18:07,440 I had been ten minutes sooner, they wouldn't have been there, 328 00:18:08,319 --> 00:18:10,319 not yet. I think the officers said they'd been there 329 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,799 less than five minutes when I saw them to let 330 00:18:13,839 --> 00:18:15,400 her eat her little meal, and they said, then he 331 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,480 probably would have just got back on the freeway. 332 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 2: The timing of Lisa's day had come down to a 333 00:18:20,039 --> 00:18:22,720 matter of critical minutes to put her in the. 334 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 3: Right place at exactly the right time. 335 00:18:26,559 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 2: Today, Bella continues to work on healing from the wounds 336 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,599 of her past. But through the grace of God and 337 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,960 an earthly angel who originally thought she was just having 338 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,839 a really bad day, Bella has grown strong and has 339 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:41,319 a beautiful family. 340 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:41,559 Speaker 3: Of her own. 341 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 2: Bella chooses to live her life in anonymity now, but 342 00:18:45,759 --> 00:18:49,279 Clara shared that today Bella is a devoted and loving 343 00:18:49,319 --> 00:18:53,160 mother with a vibrant imagination and a sharp sense of humor. 344 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,440 And we want to add one more descriptor to Clara's 345 00:18:56,519 --> 00:19:00,960 list about Bella. To us, Bella and the courageous life 346 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:03,440 she's chosen to live is a miracle. 347 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 4: I have chills. 348 00:19:07,960 --> 00:19:12,440 Speaker 2: I know. Isn't that amazing that Lisa listened. 349 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:12,839 Speaker 3: To that voice? 350 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:14,400 Speaker 4: Oh my gosh, I know. 351 00:19:15,039 --> 00:19:17,440 Speaker 5: And before we get into that, we have some really 352 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:19,680 really crucial news to share with you all. 353 00:19:20,039 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, you are not going to believe this, but Bill Mix, 354 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,440 who it turns out his full name is Charles William Mix, 355 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,119 He actually was a multiple offender. He was sentenced to 356 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:34,039 basically an eternity in prison. The crazy thing is there 357 00:19:34,119 --> 00:19:36,960 is still a possibility that he could get out of prison. 358 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's so unbelievable. 359 00:19:38,759 --> 00:19:39,160 Speaker 3: Yeah. 360 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 2: California passed an elderly parola, which basically allows inmates to 361 00:19:44,559 --> 00:19:48,559 have an automatic parole hearing if they're over a certain age. 362 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,319 And there was just one day where Bella was having 363 00:19:51,319 --> 00:19:53,880 this weird kind of gut feeling. She checked the status 364 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:58,000 of Bill's incarceration and saw that Bill had a parole 365 00:19:58,039 --> 00:20:01,039 hearing set for September of twenty twenty four. 366 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 3: And here's what Clara had to say. 367 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:06,799 Speaker 1: And she called my mom and I in a panic. 368 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,279 And that's when I said, that's okay, we're going to 369 00:20:10,319 --> 00:20:12,480 figure this out. Let me make phone calls. You don't 370 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:16,319 worry about it. I've got up. I called CDCR, said 371 00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:19,960 why is this happening? What's going on? And they told 372 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,519 me it was because of the elderly pearl. An elderly 373 00:20:22,559 --> 00:20:25,480 pearlong California states that if an inmate is over the 374 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,680 age of fifty and has served twenty or more years 375 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,720 of their sentence, then they become eligible for a parl 376 00:20:30,759 --> 00:20:36,720 suitability hearing. Therefore, if they're granted pearl, then they get out. Now, 377 00:20:36,759 --> 00:20:38,839 twenty years out of three hundred and fifty is not 378 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:44,200 a lot, So that's a big shock. This law has 379 00:20:44,319 --> 00:20:48,880 very little stipulations. If you murder a police officer, you 380 00:20:49,160 --> 00:20:51,599 don't get elderly parole, or if you are a three 381 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:55,240 strike felon, then you don't get pearl. That's about the 382 00:20:55,279 --> 00:20:59,759 extent of their stipulations. So we found this out about 383 00:20:59,799 --> 00:21:03,200 early spring twenty twenty four, and I spent the rest 384 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:07,640 of spring, summer, and fall contacting anybody I could, writing 385 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:11,799 opposition letters, reaching out to other organizations, asking for help, 386 00:21:12,519 --> 00:21:15,240 asking people to send in letters of opposition to his parol. 387 00:21:16,279 --> 00:21:19,640 Speaker 2: H can you believe that twenty nine years sall he's 388 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:21,240 been in twenty years of his sentence. 389 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:26,880 Speaker 5: Yeah, no, It's truly shocking because this man horribly abused Bella. 390 00:21:27,759 --> 00:21:30,759 And in preparation for the pearl hearing, Clara and Bella 391 00:21:30,799 --> 00:21:34,319 gathered a lot of support, including letters from Bill's prison 392 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:38,279 cellmate who said that Bill is still a dangerous man 393 00:21:38,319 --> 00:21:39,480 and should not get out. 394 00:21:39,599 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 4: And Bill's parole was denied. Fortunately, yeah, thank heavens. 395 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:48,319 Speaker 2: But yeah, Bella still had to go relive all of 396 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:52,160 these horrible memories. It's like she was victimized all over 397 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:54,720 again because she had to have all these feelings brought 398 00:21:54,759 --> 00:21:58,000 back up. I mean, she's still worried about her own 399 00:21:58,039 --> 00:22:00,000 safety if he gets out at the safety of others. 400 00:22:00,160 --> 00:22:01,680 Speaker 4: It's just very trumficent for her. 401 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,039 Speaker 5: Yeah, and as the law stands right now, she will 402 00:22:05,039 --> 00:22:07,680 have to go through that again, potentially every five to 403 00:22:07,759 --> 00:22:09,759 seven years for the rest of Bill's life. 404 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:14,519 Speaker 2: Oh, it's terrible, but Clara is such a good sister 405 00:22:14,599 --> 00:22:16,599 and she is doing everything in her power to make 406 00:22:16,599 --> 00:22:19,759 sure that doesn't happen. She's trying to pass a lot 407 00:22:19,799 --> 00:22:22,440 in the state of California called the Mary Bella Law, 408 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:26,400 named after Bella, her sister, and another young victim named Mary. 409 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,000 And the purpose of this lot is to actually keep 410 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,720 violent sexual predators in prison. And they're actually going to 411 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,319 be presenting this law before the California State Senate in 412 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:38,559 the next couple months. 413 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:41,759 Speaker 5: Yes, and Lisa has also gotten involved with this. They 414 00:22:41,799 --> 00:22:44,759 have a committee and they have weekly meetings to work 415 00:22:44,759 --> 00:22:45,079 on this. 416 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: Every week that we do it, we start with like 417 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:52,559 spotlighting somebody who we say use their voice, because that's 418 00:22:52,559 --> 00:22:54,759 the whole point of what we're doing. Is using your voice, 419 00:22:54,799 --> 00:22:58,000 being a voice for the voiceless victims who are scared 420 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,119 to fight, too tired to fight, didn't make it to fight. 421 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,839 And Lisa was one of our spotlights of a voice 422 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,440 because she didn't have to call, but she knew she 423 00:23:08,559 --> 00:23:08,920 had to. 424 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:13,400 Speaker 5: So we know that we have amazing listeners and we 425 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,039 know that you're sitting there like us, saying what can 426 00:23:16,079 --> 00:23:21,000 I do to help? So if you're in California, call 427 00:23:21,039 --> 00:23:24,759 your elected officials immediately. If you're not in California, you 428 00:23:24,759 --> 00:23:28,319 can still call the California Senators and bug them and 429 00:23:28,559 --> 00:23:32,039 share this story everywhere you can, post it on social media, 430 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,119 let people know what's going on. This is such an 431 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:36,359 important issue. 432 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we will be posting updates on our social 433 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:41,680 media so that you can follow along with what happens. 434 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:45,079 But really, if you feel compelled, please get involved. 435 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,920 Speaker 5: Yes, but before we go, I just have to say, 436 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:53,240 isn't the miracle in this story so powerful? I mean, 437 00:23:53,319 --> 00:23:55,839 how amazing is it that God was able to use 438 00:23:56,359 --> 00:24:00,960 this frazzled, busy mom in Richfield, Utah to save the 439 00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:01,960 sweet little girl. 440 00:24:02,200 --> 00:24:05,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, Lisa is amazing. And we actually have a letter 441 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:10,000 that Bella's father, Chris Clark wrote to Lisa and just 442 00:24:10,039 --> 00:24:13,079 a heads up. In this letter, he calls Bella Anna 443 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,599 because Bella's full name is Annabella. But here's what it 444 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:16,759 has to say. 445 00:24:17,279 --> 00:24:17,799 Speaker 4: Hello. 446 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:21,559 Speaker 2: My name is Chris Clark, Anna's father. I would like 447 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:24,319 to send a notice to everyone involved in the recovery 448 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,240 of my daughter, especially Lisa Hilton. If I would have 449 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,599 followed my deep gut instincts, this might not have happened. 450 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:34,240 Mix has been a friend to me and my girls 451 00:24:34,279 --> 00:24:37,119 for two to three years. Everyone that knows us is 452 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,200 shocked and in disbelief that he would do this. He 453 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:43,000 is a sick man and nobody could see it. But 454 00:24:43,079 --> 00:24:45,720 I always had a feeling about his relationship with Anna, 455 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:49,240 a gut feeling, but I didn't accept it. He just 456 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:51,920 seemed too good hearted. That goes to show that we 457 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:54,960 should all follow our gut feelings. Thank you with all 458 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,559 my heart, Lisa. You saved my daughter and saved her 459 00:24:58,599 --> 00:25:01,559 family from what could have been much more grief. Thank 460 00:25:01,599 --> 00:25:03,720 you to the social worker I don't recall his name, 461 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:07,519 and everyone else involved, please print this in your paper. 462 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,599 I am getting ready to see Anna right now. Thank 463 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,119 you again, and God bless you. Chris Clark. 464 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 5: Wow, It's just so interesting that this dad didn't feel 465 00:25:20,039 --> 00:25:23,759 good about Bill the whole time and he just didn't. 466 00:25:23,519 --> 00:25:27,960 Speaker 4: Trust his own fat Yeah. How often does that happen? 467 00:25:28,559 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: I know. 468 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 2: All I can think is just you got to listen 469 00:25:31,519 --> 00:25:34,000 to your gut, You got to trust those feelings. 470 00:25:34,279 --> 00:25:34,480 Speaker 6: Yeah. 471 00:25:34,519 --> 00:25:36,640 Speaker 5: The older I get, I think, the easier it gets 472 00:25:36,759 --> 00:25:39,960 to trust those feelings. And I've kind of stopped asking 473 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,640 myself if this is from God or not, Like, if 474 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,400 I feel something like that, I really try to pay attention. 475 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:50,160 And clearly Lisa is like an amazing example of someone 476 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:52,759 who listened to the still small voice. 477 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:53,440 Speaker 1: Right. 478 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 2: Well, we want to thank Lisa, Bella and Clara for 479 00:25:57,480 --> 00:25:59,039 sharing this experience with us. 480 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 3: We promise we will do everything. 481 00:26:02,039 --> 00:26:05,079 Speaker 2: In our power to support your efforts in changing the 482 00:26:05,160 --> 00:26:07,440 law in California, and thank. 483 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:10,039 Speaker 5: You so much for trusting us with your story. We 484 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,759 really believe that God brought us together for a reason. 485 00:26:14,160 --> 00:26:16,680 Thank you for joining us. If you have a miracle 486 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:20,400 to share, contact us at the Miracle Files dot com 487 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:21,799 or find us on Facebook. 488 00:26:22,039 --> 00:26:26,039 Speaker 2: We're now releasing multiple episodes each month, so subscribe on 489 00:26:26,079 --> 00:26:30,440 your favorite podcast platform and YouTube for amazing video content 490 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:30,920 as well. 491 00:26:31,279 --> 00:26:33,799 Speaker 5: Join us next time as we discover more of God's 492 00:26:33,839 --> 00:26:36,839 miracles and don't forget to look for his light in 493 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:37,720 your own lives.