Hero Ashley Smith

Twenty-six-year-old Ashley Copeland Smith, who had plenty of personal troubles of her own, became a heroic figure in a most unusual way on the night of March 13, 2005.

In that morning's wee hours, she went out to buy cigarettes. When she returned to her apartment, a young black man who had just committed four murders and one rape forced his way into her apartment.

Ashley initially was bound and gagged with tape, but soon the man wanted to talk. He indicated to her that all he wanted was a place to hide and to regain some normalcy for a little while.

Smith read to him from the Bible and from the inspirational book The Purpose Driven Life, then prayed with the fugitive, Brian Nichols. She also made him blueberry pancakes. Somehow, she gained his trust.

Nichols told her he felt that he was already dead, but she convinced him that by a miracle, he had been sent to her so he could help him change his life. She told him he should surrender to police and devote his life in prison to bringing religion to other inmates. In return, he told her he thought maybe she was an angel sent to help him.

Nichols allowed her to leave the apartment, surely knowing that she would call 911, which she did. Nichols went quietly when police arrived.

Adding to this already amazing story was the fact that in 2001, Smith's husband had been stabbed to death. Thereafter, she had begun using drugs and had gotten into a fair amount of trouble.

Also, adding to the story's happy ending, Smith eventually received $70,000 of reward money associated with Nichols' capture.