It was Halloween night, and Crystal and Donald Howard’s four children needed more face paint for their costumes, before trick-or-treating. On the way home from the store on that rainy Georgia night, they lost control of their SUV and skidded off the road and hit a tree. Killing them instantly.
Georgia state trooper Nathan Bradley was first on the scene...and was to be the one to go to the house to inform the family. At the door awaiting him was 13 year old Justin as Freddy Krueger, 10 year old Amaya as Dracula, 8 year old Damien as a Wizard and 6 year old Travion as a Ninja Turtle. Ready to go out for a night of fun and candy. Jason spoke through the door, "My parents went to the store to get more face paint. They told us not to open the door for anybody, but they should be back soon."
Says the Trooper, "I immediately felt ill. Not only would these children discover they lost both parents, but would spend their Halloween in a county jail until somebody could tend to them; it just wasn't right."
He called the station and explained the situation. A deputy joined him at the house to help stall for an hour whilst those at the station were searching the state and national databases for the closest or nearest relative. They found Donald’s mother, Stephanie, in Sarasota, Florida. Nathan handled the call.
“She initially thought it was a Halloween prank. She was angry and yelled at me and I said, ‘Ma’am, this is not a joke,’ and I provided some personal information and said I was there with the children.”
After the horror of that call, Grandma Stephanie needed two hours of “freaking out” before she got into her truck for the longest 500 mile drive of her life,.. to get to her grandchildren.
Before she left, the decision was made between her, Nathan, the station and The Department of Family and Child Services, to wait for her to get there to inform the children herself...and to have the Trooper be the children’s guardian until she arrived.
First, other troopers and deputies arrived, each bringing bags of candy. Neighbors, who had heard but kept silent about the tragedy, came over with treats.
They then they got in his cruiser, where they played with the lights and siren. He took them on a three block, house to house trick-or-treat. Then, one child wanted McDonalds, where they went. Another wanted Burger King, where they also went. And then pizza.
All the while, knowing that the children’s lives will be changed forever.
“It was dreadful. I did some pretty remarkable acting. I have the worst fake smile in the world, but I wore it. It just tore me apart.”
When they got back to the State Police Station to sleep, the other troopers had a Halloween party ready for them when they walked in. Afterwards, Nathan’s corporal came in with popcorn and Disney films, which they proceeded to watch. When tucking them in, Amaya told him, “You turned an F-minus day into an A-plus night!”
All the while, Justin knew something wasn’t right. But for the sake of his younger siblings, he kept quiet. He later said, “I had thought, something bad must have happened. If nothing bad happened then all these troopers wouldn’t be here.”
Stephanie arrived at 6:30am, and after asking all the questions one could ask, woke the kids and broke the news. ‘’She was so happy to see that last bit of innocence in them before tragedy struck.”
When her grandchildren were in her truck, she walked up to Nathan. “I love you, I love you, I love you. Thank you for preserving their innocence.”
They returned to the family home to stay for a few days before returning to Florida. Nathan came by. Justin immediately rushed through the house to hold the trooper tight. “He hugged me so tight I could feel him squeezing me through my vest. I asked him how he was holding up, and he said, ‘I’m doing the best I can, but why does it have to be both parents?’ I said, ‘That’s a question I can’t answer.'” He gave Justin his trooper hat and wrote his phone number under the bill.
Justin called the next day.
The trooper wasn’t finished yet!
He found out through Justin that the family needed $7,000 for funeral expenses, to bring Crystal and Donald to Florida for their funeral, and to move the family belongings...so Bradley set up a Gofundme page that has raised almost $500,000! Each of the children now has a college trust fund set.
This happened in Nov. of 2015. I thought it still especially pertinent. Nary every story regarding the police is about injustice and unnecessary violence. I wanted...and needed, a reminder of the flip-side.
Since then, Justin has skipped a year in school and is looking forward to going to FSU...which is paid-for. The family has moved into a bigger home.
In Nov. of 2016, Nathan got married. Said Stephanie, “We’re going to be the first ones there! Because he is so wonderful, there’s no way in the world I wouldn’t be there for him. He took very good care of my grandchildren. I’m so proud of him.”
His wife, also named Stephanie, and her parents, paid for the kids to fly-in for the wedding. Their first time on a plane. They are expecting their first child this December.
“It’s amazing how the country came together to support them,” Nathan says. “They’re no longer orphans. The country has taken them into their arms. They’re America’s children now when you think about it.”
Indeed.
Trooper, Neighbor, Brother. Nathan Bradley is a true public servant. Compassion, kindness, empathy...I'm so glad he was there for those kids.
Helping balance the scales.