Ga. Woman Held Hostage Describes Ordeal

By DANIEL YEE


ATLANTA (AP) - For hours, Ashley Smith gently talked to the armed suspect in Atlanta's courthouse slayings, turning from hostage to confidant as they discussed God, family, pancakes and the massive manhunt going on outside her apartment.


``I believe God brought him to my door,'' Smith said Sunday, only hours after her 911 call ended a manhunt for Brian Nichols, who is accused of shooting four people since Friday.


Over the course of the night, Nichols untied Smith, and some of the fear lessened as they talked. Nichols told Smith he felt like ``he was already dead,'' but Smith urged him to consider the fact that he was still alive a ``miracle.''