While there are millions of Facebook users around the world, it’s doubtful any of them feel as thankful for the platform’s existence than a Utah mother who used the service to escape a hostage situation.

The woman in question, who’s name has not been revealed, was, along with her 17-month old son, being held hostage by Troy Reed Critchfield in Salt Lake City. Critchfield removed all other forms of communication from the victims, except the victim’s laptop. With her portable computer, the woman hid in one of her closets, and according the Associated Press, posted a Facebook message saying her and her son would be “dead by morning” if help didn’t come.

The victim’s Facebook post resulted in a call to the local police, who investigated the complaint. Once there, Critchfield was soon arrested and the victim, as well as her son, escaped without further harm.

Obviously, this is not the first time Facebook has been used in relation to dramatic, police-worthy incidents, but this does seem to be one of the times the situation ended without further incident, meaning Facebook helped the local police act before it was too late.

For his actions, Critchfield was arrested and booked on the following charges:

…for investigation of aggravated kidnapping, forcible sodomy, aggravated assault, domestic violence, child abuse, animal cruelty and other charges.

Not only did Facebook play an active role in the hostages’ rescue, judging by the charges levied against the assailant, the victim’s “dead by morning” post could’ve been frighteningly accurate. Thankfully, no further damage was done.

Lead image hat-tip.