An Ohio woman, Carla Bannister, experienced a terrifying ordeal when her car was set ablaze by an unknown perpetrator. But amidst this shocking event, a glimmer of hope emerged through the kindness of a stranger, who had a sad secret that was pushing him to help others.

Carla Bannister was abruptly awakened at 4:30 a.m. by the sound of police knocking on her door, informing her that her car was on fire. “I was terrified. I was discombobulated,” Bannister, a 38-year-old mother of 4-year-old twin daughters, recounted. Surveillance footage from her apartment building showed someone deliberately setting her 2007 Chevrolet Traverse on fire.

Surveillance footage of someone setting fire through a broken rear window of Bannister’s car in the parking lot of her apartment building in Cincinnati. photo by Woodlawn Police Department

“This is definitely not a common thing that occurs in our area,” noted Detective Nicco Gumino, who is handling the case for the Woodlawn Police Department.  The footage revealed the suspect walking up to Bannister’s SUV, throwing rocks at it, and eventually breaking the rear window. 

He is also seen throwing a type of fluid on the vehicle, a possible [fire] accelerant,” Gumino said. “You can see him lighting something on fire, throwing it into the vehicle, and it just ignited.”

The suspect then poured a flammable liquid on the vehicle and ignited it. A nearby witness who heard the car alarm and then spotted the flames, quickly called 911, allowing firefighters to extinguish the fire before it spread too far.

Bannister, who works as a manager at a local business, was left in a difficult situation without a vehicle. “I was overwhelmed and just at a loss,” she said,mentioning that she wasn’t sure how she would manage without her car. Although she has car insurance, Bannister was uncertain about the extent of her coverage and how long it would take to get her into a new vehicle.

Woodlawn police officers Nicco Gumino, left, and Breanne Sampson, with Carla Bannister and Jim Davenport. Photo by Woodlawn Police Department

Amidst her distress, Jim Davenport, 67, saw Bannister’s story on a local news report and felt compelled to help. “She needed the car more than I did,” he said. Having purchased a new car for himself last December, Davenport decided to give Bannister his old vehicle. 

Davenport said he is battling esophageal cancer. He has no family to pass on his old vehicles to and wanted to help Bannister out. He said he has another car he plans to give to someone in need. “I don’t know how much time I’m going to be in this world,” Davenport said, acknowledging the spread of his cancer to his liver.

“I want to bless somebody else with another car.” His focus for the rest of his life, Davenport said, is to spread kindness and make a positive impact. “I’ve done my little bit to make the world a better place,” he said.

If you plant good seed, it’ll grow good things.”

“Everything in life comes full circle, and this guy will get what’s coming to him,” Davenport said about the suspect. Despite its age and some minor damage, Davenport ensured his car was in good running condition.

“I was in awe,” Bannister said of learning the new vehicle. Davenport’s selfless act left her feeling grateful and touched by the goodness in the world. On July 12, Davenport met Bannister at the police station, where he handed over the keys and provided instructions for transferring the vehicle’s title. 

“When you put good into the universe, good comes back to you,” Bannister said. “I just want to thank him so much for blessing me with this car. I have a way to get to work. I have a way to drive my children.” Police are still looking for the suspect.

Sources: Washington Post | WSAZ