| By Gena McGuiness
"We're happy to know he's with a loving family member and look forward to him coming back to visit," so says Martha Kent of 12-year-old Ryan. A few days ago, while driving Route 90, Kent literally ran into the lost boy when Ryan dashed out onto the road. Rushed to the hospital, Ryan suffered only minor cuts and bruises but claimed to have no memory other than his name. With no evidence of head injuries, doctors assessed his temporary memory lapse to traumatic shock. Unable to contact next of kin, hospital administrators and the Kents were in a quandary over what to do with the youngster. "We weren't going to let him stay in the sheriff's juvenile cell until Child Services could come for him," says Jonathan Kent, "so we brought him home with us."
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It wasn't long before the Kents discovered Ryan's story. Orphaned after the death of his mother, Ryan became the charge of his allegedly abusive stepfather, Gibson Burch, and Burch's unconscionable partner, Debra Burch. A modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, the lawless couple is responsible for several armed robberies, the last ending in the death of elderly pawnshop owner Jules Casey. But the crime spree came to a deadly end last night with the murder of Debra Burch, allegedly shot point blank by Gibson, and the arrest of Gibson himself.
Ryan has now found a new home with a distant aunt in Edge City. "She's a nice lady. I knew it before she even said a word," says Ryan, "but I sure will miss Mr. and Mrs. Kent and Clark. He's a real superhero."
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