In 2010, six-year-old Giovanni “Govi” Eastwood, a boy with Down syndrome, was found locked away in the attic of his family home in Kansas, severely malnourished and neglected. His weight was closer to that of a three-year-old, and he was unable to walk or speak much, living in terrible conditions with no blanket, no toys, and covered in filth. His mother, Rachel Perez, had been taken into custody for unrelated reasons, and although police found his siblings and placed them in safety, Govi remained hidden upstairs.
Officers had first been misled with false information from Rachel about Govi’s whereabouts, but their instincts kept them searching, and eventually, they discovered the boy in the attic. Sergeant John Klingele, one of the rescuers, described Govi as looking like a child trapped in a concentration camp, skin and bones, fragile and emaciated. Medical experts later said that if Govi had not been rescued that night, he likely would not have survived long.
Govi, along with his sisters, was taken in and adopted by their great aunt and uncle, Stacy and Joe Eastwood. At first, Govi’s recovery was slow and difficult; he was afraid and only slept on the floor, worrying about being hurt. But with time, love, and care, he grew stronger and began to thrive. Six years after the rescue, the officers who found him reunited with Govi and were amazed at his transformation. They made him an honorary deputy at the sheriff’s office and presented him with a plaque.
Govi gratefully thanked the officers who saved his life. His family and rescuers say he is a magical child who brings out the best in everyone around him. His story stands as a powerful reminder of hope, healing, and the importance of kindness and protection for vulnerable children.
