Posted on 01/13/2007 8:34:23 AM PST by mfnorman
BEAUFORT, Mo. - For better than four years, Shawn Hornbeck's parents dealt with their grief over the 11-year-old's disappearance by devoting themselves to bringing missing people home.
On Saturday, they showed off their best argument for hanging onto hope — the boy, now a shaggy-haired 15-year-old, joined them at a news conference a day after police found him and another recently abducted boy at a suburban St. Louis apartment, both alive and apparently well.
"Shawn is a miracle here," his mother, Pam Akers, said Saturday at an elementary school in his hometown of Richwoods. "We're glad to have him home. I still feel like I'm in a dream, only this time it's a good dream, not the nightmare I've had four-and-a-half years."
Hornbeck did not speak, but he smiled often, his mother's arm draped around him, and seemed at ease. He was much bigger than pictures of the missing 11-year-old, his hair darker and longer.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I am interested to learn how he controlled the older boy to keep him for four years. It reminds me of this movie. The boy was kidnapped and was told he was not wanted at home and he was young enough to believe it. Yet I don't know how an 11 year old would believe that from a stranger. Wow I wonder how many other boys this perv has abused. Thankfully the police spotted the vehicle. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097553/
Freedom from enemies within BUMP!
Yes, I hope that they can get this type of information out to the public - so parents & schools can educate children on submission/brainwashing techniques that might be used on them in the unfortunate event that they might be similarly abducted.
It's sad & frightening that children have to be taught this kind of stuff, but we all need to know how these monsters operate.
That poor boy's life has been destroyed.
I am happy he is alive. It is truly a miracle.
Let's not be negative. He is alive. He is a cute boy, with adoring parents and a huge support group.
That scumbag was a child molester and has been convicted before.
You can thank the leftist Judges appointed By Democrat Pols for this easy system that lets off these Filthy Dirtwads.
they havent found a MOTIVE!!!???
How stupid is that statement.
How Liberal Democrat is that statement!!!???
His life has not been destroyed - that is a large over-interpretation of what his life will be going forward.
He will have a period of time in his life - some of which is awful and he will want to forget - but most was still normal.
The next few years will determine how he adjusts - he can come out just fine.
When you have finally grown up - for many folks not until they are in their 30s - how much does what you did or remember about being 12-13 years old matters or is remembered.
He can put this behind him, and I hope he does!
What man meant for evil, God can make for good...Never forget this.
Yes - the perp's life should be destroyed.
It is surprisingly easy to brainwash people. Even adults. You just have to know what buttons to push and I have yet to see a perv who was not a master manipulator. After all they have managed to convince themselves that what they do is ok so they have plenty of practice at it.
your so right. thats all i keep thinking about through this news conference. how did he keep you for so long?
This perp works at the pizza place we go to all the time. I recognize him.
OMG. I bet this makes you want to be ill!
Please refresh my memory: is this the same boy whose alleged picture was left on the doorstep of his parents' house several months ago. The pictures showed two boys tied up on a bed. It was blurry polaroid-type images so you couldn't really see their faces clearly?
WHAT! I bet you are shocked! So he had a job. The boys must have been just stayed put. Or possibly locked up?
Out of all the conversations I've ever had with my children about how to stay safe, stay together, don't talk to strangers, don't ever get in somebody else's car, the use of "code words," so they know who to trust, how to avoid dangerous situations, etc., I've never told them what to do if they ever got kidnapped and found themselves in another person's control. I'm having that talk with them today.
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