Posted on 01/15/2007 7:34:35 AM PST by JustaCowgirl
KIRKWOOD, Mo. -- The uncle of a 13-year-old boy rescued four days after he was snatched on his way home from school said on Monday that no one is pushing the boy to talk about his ordeal.
Lloyd Bailie, the uncle of teenager Ben Ownby, told CBS' "Early Show" that the boy was only talking with FBI counselors.
"No one's pushing him at this point to answer these questions," Bailie said. "The biggest concern right now is all of the media coverage ... that somebody's going to ask the wrong question. ... (But) at this point, everyone has been very respectful of Ben and his family."
On Friday, police found Ben and another missing boy, Shawn Hornbeck, in the home of 41-year-old Michael Devlin. Shawn was 11 when he disappeared in 2002.
Devlin was arrested and jailed on $1 million bond. He was awaiting arraignment on one charge of kidnapping but more charges are likely, authorities said.
Bailie said the first thing Ben asked for when he was returned to his family was a snack. Then he asked to play video games.
"It's just amazing that this just had such a great ending," Bailie said.
Also Monday, one of the officers who arrested Devlin said he knew the man even before he began staking out his home: He had eaten at the pizza parlor he managed.
"Obviously we were shocked. He was a very laid-back and quiet individual so it kind of threw us for a loop also," police office Gary Wagster said on the CBS program.
Wagster got involved Thursday when he and his partner noticed that Devlin's truck matched the description of one seen speeding from the site of Ben's disappearance on Jan. 8.
The officers questioned Devlin in the parking lot, and said he was initially friendly and cooperative. But his demeanor quickly changed when the officers started asking him specific questions, Wagster said. He became agitated and defensive.
"It was a total 180 degrees from where he was," Wagster said.
With red flags raised, Wagster reported the find to FBI agents and Franklin County sheriff's deputies who were leading the hunt for Ben.
When agents arrived Thursday evening, Devlin wouldn't let them into his apartment, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation, who refused to be identified because he is not authorized to speak publicly about the case.
By the time Devlin left for work Friday morning, police had staked out his apartment and the FBI agents were investigating him. When agents entered Devlin's modest-two-bedroom apartment in this St. Louis suburb, they found Ben and Shawn.
Authorities at first didn't recognize Shawn, who disappeared at age 11 while on a bike ride but was now a gangly 15-year-old with floppy hair and a pierced lip. He told them his identity when agents entered the apartment.
Authorities won't say how Devlin kept the boys confined in his home or what they believe to be his motive. Shawn seemed to have had every chance to escape during his captivity. He was left alone for hours to ride his bike, play video games and walk past missing-child posters showing his own age-progressed image.
Terri Weaver, an associate psychology professor at Saint Louis University, an expert on post traumatic stress disorder, said children in such situations kick into survival mode, "doing what needs to be done to keep yourself going day-to-day."
The case is reminiscent of the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping. The Salt Lake City teen was taken for nine months by a religious zealot and passed up several chances to escape.
Stephen Golding, a forensic psychologist who examined the suspect in the Smart case, said captors often establish control over their victims through fear.
"People are led to believe, through someone taking advantage of their vulnerabilities, that leaving is not an option, that things will get worse for them or will get worse for others," Golding said.
It was unclear Sunday whether Devlin had a lawyer. Jail officials would not comment, and the county public defender's office was closed.
Devlin was raised in the St. Louis suburb of Webster Groves and got a job at the pizza parlor when he was in high school. He never left the restaurant over the years. He has no apparent criminal past, except for a pair of traffic fines, officials said.
His family released a statement Saturday praising law enforcement agencies for returning Ben and Shawn to their families. Devlin's relatives said they prayed for Ben's safe return when they learned last week he was kidnapped, and said "the past few days have been incredibly difficult.
"Just as we are relieved that both Ben and Shawn are now safe, we hope that Michael will be safe as the facts of his case are revealed."
that is exactly what i thought!
I hope the "truth" will out. The MSM can really screw things up.
I mean it seems like they always keep that part of the kid's story a secret and only the parents and therapist know what the abductor said to gain control over the kid.
Why not tell everyone what these guys say? They can do it without mentioning the child involved.
I had those same thoughts myself. Perhaps it's time to start educating children in the kinds of psychological indoctrination techniques that people who would take advantage of them use. And the fact is, use of those kinds of methods aren't limited to kidnappers of children. Look at any profile of wife batterers, or any profile of child molesters, you'll see exactly the same psychological profile and techniques for gaining control of the other person.
There was a guy on TV a few years back who showed parents how easy it is for predators to lure a child. Even the ones who were convinced they had taught their child all the right things & that their child wouldn't even speak to a stranger got a shock when they watched as their child went with him.
Once they have them, I shudder to think.
John just went ballistic. Reminded them that when he was abducted he was 4'7", and 90 pounds. His abductor was 300 pounds.
Yeah I've seen that kind of show. Very scary.
There's a lot missing from this story....like how this guy singled out this kid, this school bus in a place that was an hour and a 1/2 away from where he lived.
great point! We need to start not only warning kids how to get away from a stranger, but what to do just in case our kids get taken by a stranger. It appears that the Devlin had guns, so he likely took Owenby by gunpoint, cause there is no way in heck that boy would have gone with a a stranger(boy scout, 13, straight A student, all around great kid)! So, not all situations are something that the kid can get away from. So, we need to be teaching that if the kids are ever taken that they shouldn't believe anythin the pervs say and get away at first chance.
What I find interesting is that Ben Owneby was with Devlin for 4 days. Devlin already left him alone with Shawn and he could have excaped! WHY NOT? Because likely Devlin was lying to him and scared him enough to keep him right where he was, in Devlin's apt!
Yes. I wondered if Ben was tied up and Shawn was left to watch him.
likely, but if Shawn was used to keep Ben hostage at all, it was because he was forced by his captor as well.
I going to type it again...This story is just too weird. There is more to this than is being reported. Something stinks, and it will eventually come out.
Of course
what do you mean? Let me tell you what stinks? A 30something man got away with kidnapping a child for 4 years and likely did all sorts of things to him, that is what stinks!
Yea, a 300 pound pedophile kidnapped 2 boys. That stinks to high heaven.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.