🚨 The Gist: Joshua Bennett Dornellas, a South Carolina father, allegedly kidnapped his 3-year-old son, Bennett, and led authorities on a chase into Georgia, where he set the vehicle on fire with the child inside.
❓ What’s Happening:
- The alleged abduction followed a domestic dispute between Dornellas and the child’s mother
- Dornellas crashed the vehicle on I-85 in Georgia and set it ablaze with his son inside
🔍 Between the Lines:
- Dornellas has faced previous charges, including a recent one related to domestic violence
- During the chase, he allegedly made threats against the child’s life
🏃 Catch Up Quick:
- Law enforcement officers rescued Bennett from the burning vehicle
- The 3-year-old suffered severe burns and is receiving medical treatment
- Georgia authorities took Dornellas, who also sustained injuries, into custody
🖼️ The Big Picture: Law enforcement’s quick response likely saved the child’s life. The family has set up a GoFundMe page for Bennett. You can access that here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-request-for-a-tragic-and-violent-incident
💭 Your Take: Tell us what you think about what happened in the comments below.

Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.