Kidnapper told boy his parents did not want him

thisislondon.co.uk ^ | 1/15/07

[Halls]

Kidnap victim Shawn Hornbeck was "brainwashed" into staying with his abductor after being told his parents no longer wanted him.

His kidnapper also threatened to shoot the 15-year-old after snatching him off the street.

Friends of the teenager have revealed Michael Devlin, 41, had at least three guns in the apartment where Shawn was held captive.

Tony Douglas, 15, who was Shawn's best friend, said: "We both knew there were guns in the house. Michael told us that he had the guns and were for his protection."

Shawn's stepfather Craig Akers, 45, has revealed his son's life was threatened by Devlin while he lived with him in a ground floor flat in Kirkwood, a suburb of St Louis, Missouri.

[DvdMom]

Read Post 179

[Long Island Pete]

Where was the Constitution for the 2 boys or dont you care about them? I know, you belong to NAMBLA. Donate to Pelosi also, lawdud?

[lawdude]

"Must be a lib. Cant debate without resorting to name calling. Well lawdud there is this thing called common sense and I would hazzard to guess that you thought OJ was guilty also."

That hurts. I am to the right of Rush. But, I stand by my belief that we obey the rule of law, no matter how distasteful.

Of course I believe OJ was guilty, but I also believe that was the most poorly prosecuted trial in history. I had a bet with a Prosecutor in the area that he would be found NG. She agreed. He was.

My whole point is, we are a nation of laws and they CANNOT be applied selectively, else we are no better than Iraq.

End of discussion.

[CajunConservative]

There is still a difference between an 11 year old and a 17 year old.

Enlistment is not the same in this matter at all.

[A Citizen Reporter]

"Let's see... in a lot of news reports the neighbors have said that Devlin was always threatening to call the police. Maybe Shawn felt he couldn't trust the police."

Not only threatening, Devlin DID call the police on his neighbors who parked in his parking space.

The two officers who were interviewed yesterday, (and first discovered the truck) said that they knew Devlin as the local Imo's Pizza manager.

[Eva]

Again, you are projecting. The film that I saw showed the mother leading the boy by the hand. The kid looked very unhappy and uncomfortable.

[lawdude]

"Where was the Constitution for the 2 boys or dont you care about them? I know, you belong to NAMBLA. Donate to Pelosi also, lawdud?"

Of course I care about them. Are you truly that f**king stupid? Get your emotions under control and read what I have posted. Their Constitutional are the same as his.

[DvdMom]

What a load of bull**** ~!!

I know a girl who at age 11 was an honor student & a church going girl .

She ended up being raped at 14 At the Pastor's house !

By age 15 she KILLED Herself !

I Know you were NEVER RAPED !

[nuconvert]

"I think they are taking the approach of lets do this now, get the press off of our back, then we can start addressing the healing process."

I hope you're right. But I don't feel good about this.

I think the Smarts handled it well.
And so far, Elizabeth Smart seems to be doing well.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Thank you lawdude. As much as we want to rush to kill this guy, we do live in a country that allows all its citizens a right to a fair trial.

Now, hopefully, it will be prosecuted perfectly and the guilty party will never see the light of day.

I have seen others suggest that whomever defends this man should suffer his punishment.

I have seen others want to persecute his family.

Message boards make monsters of us at times.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

The families immediately took the children to Cardinal Glennon for a complete work-up and psychological exam. I'm sure the physicians at this well-respected Catholic Hospital were instrumental in giving advice as to how the families should proceed. Oprah may be offering the "appearance" as a way for Shawn's family to get the money they desperately will need for his rehabilitation. Devlin, himself, was an adopted child. No other details on his family.

[daybreakcoming]

Agreed.
Those speculating in such negative ways should be praying for the child instead - putting their thoughts publicly does this boy no good at all. None. The only suggestion I have is that the family clamp down on info and focus all efforts on healing.

[Frapster]

unfortunately such an emotionally gripping story leaves little room for cold, yet correct, political analysis.

[WV Mountain Mama]

I hope it is to raise money and awareness that there may be 100's of missing children living around us with captors and to open our eyes. If something seems not quite right, check it out. I also know that Oprah has declared war on pedophiles. I believe that this guy was a pedophile released from jail who did not register upon his release. Hopefully, she will put up on her website more pictures of wanted pedophiles. Last year she awarded $100,000 of her own money to people who gave tips that led to the arrest of wanted and missing pedophiles. At least, that is why I hope they are on the show...

Does anyone know if there are any websites that have pictures, names, descriptions of pedophiles that have been released and have not registered like they were supposed to?

[Frapster]

check that - legal analysis

[abner]

Thanks for your post.

It has to be shocking knowing this guy.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

My GF proffered the theory that the perp liked young boys and that's why the 11 year old was kidnapped. No telling what he was getting ready to do with the 15 year old.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Of course he is uncomfortable, he is suddenly the object of the worlds media. Who wouldn't be uncomfortable. And you think mom dragged him there because she held his hand. I think you are again projecting in describing that as dragging. She held his hand, she hugged him, she consoled him.

They had a choice to make; either do a public media viewing, or spend months with media parked outside their house capturing their every move. If he went to the bathroom, someone would report it kind of existence.

[imintrouble]

Question:

How does a new outlet such as "This is London - UK" get the information when I don't see it happening here in the U.S.?

Are they breaking a code of some kind for secrecy and protection of the victim or are we reading some wetdream of a junior journalist in the U.K.

Is this story veribiable?

Regardless of how the boy was secured mentally, his life is one bad road trip back if he ever makes it into the sunshine again.

[imintrouble]

Correcting error from previous:

Should be verifiable. Sorry