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.

[lawdude]

Another thought. Were you as quick to condemn the Duke 3? Or did you excuse their REPORTED acts because she was....shudder...BLACK?

I recall when the Duke case was first reported. The black leadership in this country sounded exactly like you and your holier-than-thou breathern who don't want the Constitution to apply to all. Just your color, your religion, your friends.

You are disgusting.

[trillabodilla]

As a normal teenager, I, too, rebelled against my parents.

But I also wasn't scared they were going to shoot me.

[bonfire]

Thanks. I did! I'm slow motion today!

[CedarDave]

I've worked with pedophiles and their victims. Let's just say that these scum are very manipulative. The physical stuff is much easier to heal from than the head games. That is what really screws up these kids.

So true. The good part is that Ben was only in the hands of Devlin for four days and though terrified and likely abused will recover more quickly than Shawn will. In contrast to Shawn, at his news conference Ben was beaming and very happy to be there. I expect he will be o.k. and back in school soon with his classmates.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Agreed. To all, knock off the nasty speculation. That's really not what these threads are for. Stop the name calling back and forth. Let's decide for once and for all, is an ll-year-old a child or an adult. In some states 11 year-olds are wise enough to be put away for life. Which is it?

My gut tells me these are still kids, and boys, to boot. Mothers can tell you how vulnerable their sons are and how they can be manipulated, and I think any further discussions about the boys should be monitored by the Administrators of FreeRepublic. Pull the vicious ones.

[Ohioan from Florida]

I don't think that the poor kid had any will left in him. I mean, look at how submissive he was on Saturday, when his mother dragged him back to the fifth grade classroom where he was attending school when he was abducted. I can't imagine that the kid wanted to be there.

Ya know, I thought you had just forgotten the sarcasm tag, and then read on the replies, that you actually seem serious. When I looked at Shawn, I saw a kid who wanted to be VERY NEAR to his family, in particular his mother! I cannot imagine him wanting to be separated from her again (at least not this soon)! We are talking about a kid who was taken from his family against his will, and held captive from his family, against his will.

[MEGoody]

I can't imagine what tortures this kid must have endured during his 4 years with this creep. I am praying that he can be healed and return to some sort of a normal life.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

The Constitution will apply in Franklin County, Dude. That's the other connection I have -- it's a pity FOX didn't feature my cousin's Western Auto Store right across the street from the Courthouse. We could use the free publicity -- Walmart, y'know. ;-)

[DaughterofEve]

I am around 11 year old children all day long. Many, many more than you realize are very naive and suggestible. They very often don't live up to your hard-line high expectations about thinking for themselves.

Apparently, you don't realize how trauma, abuse and torture can detour one from one's "main path", at any age.

[Halls]

you know what I remember from that press conference. Shawn was walking in with his mother. His mother hugs an apparent friend of hers and than Shawn looks up and sees a boy about his age standing next to the woman his mom hugged. You could tell they made eye contact and Shawn smiled at him so happily like he hadn't seem this boy in ages, but knew who he was and was so happy to see him.

I think Shawn was very happy to be there and so happy to see so many familiar faces.

I won't jusdge anything his mom and dad do in these coming days. They love Shawn and people have their own way of dealing with their circumstances.

[Long Island Pete]

Another thought. Were you as quick to condemn the Duke 3?

No actually I was waiting for evidence against those boys. STILL WAITING!!! All the evidence I need for this case were the boys were where they werent suppose to be. Dont have a law degree but I do have common sense. Something you lack. I have come to the conclusion that you are a class A liberal schmuck. Now go back to surfing the NAMBLA website and make sure their constitutional rights arent violated. I am done with you.

[silentreignofheroes]

They showed a film clip from the time that Shawn was first abducted of a nice looking man in a beard, talking about Shawn, was that his real father? It doesn't look anything like the guy with the horrible teeth that was seen at the school.


Shows were your heart's at...

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Don't go there, Pete, please. It helps nothing and puts off people who would otherwise agree. Stop the nasty stuff. It helps no one. You have no idea what it's like to be the Duke three or the kidnapped boys, nor does the fellow you are sparing with. It is what it is. Devlin will get a fair trial, but he will be found guilty. The Feds are actually INVESTIGATING this one, unlike the Durham or little municipalities who just go through the motions.

[CedarDave]

Again, there are unmoderated forums out there that are much worse than anything allowed to remain on here. As he learned when he was abducted, the world is not all sweetness and light. Though mostly supportive, this forum does contain remarks from some folks who should know better. As part of his rehabilitation, I expect that he will be told not to internalize the bad ones but to celebrate the good ones.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Family is broke, step father quit job, no benefits, lost leg last year while looking for another missing child. It's easy to judge by the tooth to tattoo ratio, but don't unless you've walked in his shoes.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Great post, CG!! TY very much!!

[sam I am]

In our family an 8 year old boy and his little sister were taken from their home. He was an ex con . He took them to a motel and then left to get some beer and food.

The kids were very afraid of this man. The boy called the police and told them their names, where they were and that they had been kidnapped. He gave them the names of their parents telephone number and address.

The police picked them up and the guy is now in prison.

[mel]

you deserve a bump on that statement. Blaming the boy is disgusting and apalling

[mel]

Look I would feel uncomfortable being in front of a bunch of tv cameras

[sam I am]

Should be the man was an ex con.