To some it's "politically incorrect" to utter a word of criticism against his parents, as vigilant as they've been in searching for him and helping others. Yet I find it puzzling that they would agree to such an interview.
Michael Devlin was caught red-handed. He belongs to one of the lowest forms of humanity on the earth.
I think the reason they put him on Oprah was to address the largest possible audience and be done with it. You know very well that, if they hadn't addressed the media, the naysayers would be claiming they're hiding something and there must be something to the theory that he ran away and/or chose to stay with Devlin. They can't win, no matter what they do. I think Oprah was the best choice because, not only does she reach the largest audience but because, as a sexual assault victim, she can empathize with Hornbeck. There are several other shows which would have paid the Akers big bucks to get exclusive rights to the story. Instead, they chose to go with Oprah and take NO money, because they were more concerned with getting the message out to as many people as possible. They were more concerned with the safety of other children, than with their own pocketbook. I applaud them.