3-year-old left in burning car by father is back home from burn center

BELTON, S.C. (FOX Carolina/Gray News) - Bennett Dornellas returned home to South Carolina after spending months being treated for burns in the Augusta Burn Center in Georgia.

The 3-year-old received care for third-degree burns that covered 90% of his body after officials said his father, Joshua Dornellas, kidnapped him, led officials on a chase across state lines and set a truck on fire with Bennett still inside back in May.

After four long months, Bennett was cleared to return home on Sept. 17.

“Today was amazing! Lots of tears shed, happy tears. Thank you all we are forever grateful for you all! We will miss all our amazing nurses and doctors but we will be going back often for checkups and future surgeries. Bennett is sound asleep and so happy to be home!! He laughed so much at uncle Jeremy and ridge playing with woodys hat lol so happy all my babies are under one roof and we get to spend quality time together!” Chelsea Oliver, Bennett’s mother, said.

Bennett will continue to need 24-hour medical assistance each day as he continues to heal, according to officials.

“I’ve dreamed about this day many times,” the boy’s mother added. “Life will look a lot different for us forever but I find hope in knowing he will continue to get back to his ‘normal.’ We have a great team of doctors, therapist and nurses who are like family now.”

A GoFundMe was set up for Bennett’s medical expenses.

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