London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 12, 2025

Chicago: Grandmother rescued from 17-hour hostage ordeal after police were alerted because she missed a Wordle game

Chicago: Grandmother rescued from 17-hour hostage ordeal after police were alerted because she missed a Wordle game

The victim's daughter grew concerned that she hadn't responded to texts - or sent her the daily Wordle puzzle.

A Chicago grandmother was rescued from a 17-hour hostage ordeal after her daughter noticed she had not completed her daily Wordle puzzle.

Denyse Holt, 80, was alone when a naked intruder entered her home, on Morse Avenue, at 3am last Sunday and awoke her brandishing a pair of scissors.

Suspect James H Davis III, 32, then collected all the telephones and mobile phones within the house, preventing Ms Holt from contacting anyone.

James H Davis III allegedly broke into Denyse Holt's home at 3am last Sunday.


She was then locked in the basement bathroom with a chair securing the door.

Davis then allegedly took knives from the kitchen and retreated to the second floor of her home.

On Sunday evening, the victim's daughter, Meredith Holt-Caldwell, grew concerned that her mother hadn't responded to texts - or sent her the daily Wordle puzzle, which was out of character. She called a neighbour, who contacted the police to conduct a well-being check.

At 9.40pm, officers found a broken window on the first floor of the single-family home, along with visible blood on the scene.

Ms Holt was immediately taken to safety where she was found to be physically unharmed.

"I didn't think I was going to live," Ms Holt told CBS News.

With no windows, and in darkness, she said she did exercises in the 17-hours of captivity.

"I was doing marching and stretching as much as I could."

She added: "I didn't send my older daughter a Wordle in the morning. And that was disconcerting to her."

Police said they also discovered Davis at the property. After unsuccessfully using a Taser on him, a SWAT team was sent into the home. He was detained just before 3am on Monday.

It is believed Davis had been suffering mental health issues when he discarded his clothes and broke into the victim's residence.

He now faces several felony charges - including aggravated kidnapping while armed, home invasion with a dangerous weapon and assault of an officer.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
×