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.

[Burkean]

Has it been confirmed that the boys were raped? I hadn't heard that, though there was talk of gathering things from the apartment and from the man's computer that sounded ominous.

I think something that inadvertantly made Shawn vulnerable to brainwashing by the kidnapper was his mother's remarriage after his father's death and the desire by the parents to have Shawn adopted by the step father. The report I heard said the adoption had been tabled just before the kidnapping until Shawn was more ready. I think the kidnapper was able to capitailize on Shawn's ambivalence over having a new father and twisted the circumstances to more easily brainwash him.

[pepperdog]

Frankly I have to wonder about them! Anyone who would blame a child and say the child wanted to be with a pervert is rather perverted themselves.

[Beagle8U]

That was my point! Anyone that saw that movie knows this is a copycat case. Its just to close to the same MO right down to telling the kid that his parents were dead or didn't want him.

[UpAllNight]

--Well The Fox reporters converted to Islam while kidnapped WITHOUT being RAPED repeatly & Their Adults !--

Uh, they had gun barrels stuck into their heads ...

[OldFriend]

I need to get off this thread. Am so angry at anyone laying any criticism on that boy rather than ALL the blame where it belongs.

[ishabibble]

Talk is cheap, the cheapest thing in this unkind world.
I am guessing that poster Vaduz is neither Mr. or Mrs. Hornbeck.

It didn't happen to your kid, pal, and you should thank God for that, every single day. Ever met the parents of a missing or murdered child? I have, and they are walking ghosts.

[Dianna]

Please get in the real world! Your life or the life of your children may depend upon it.

Part of being able to live in this world and cope with the dangers is a healthy dose of denial. We HAVE to believe that we can keep our kids safe, otherwise how do we let them walk out the door?

Situations like this threaten our beliefs. It can be pretty hard.

[OldFriend]

Thanks, alread a freeper commented on the kidnapper being out on bail, asking where the mother got the money.

I can't take the stuff on this thread.

[UpAllNight]

--Anyone who would blame a child and say the child wanted to be with a pervert is rather perverted themselves.--

Let's see. I am in a police car with a policeman and do not tell the policeman that I have been kidnapped?

[stlnative]

Devlin is not out of jail! - I made the bail comment to someone who had their post removed because they were blaming Shawn for his situation. (how someone could blame the boy is beyond me unless they are someone just like Devlin)

[mtbopfuyn]

Yes, I read about those on a site devoted to a missing child named Colton. It does make you wonder if Devlin was involved. There may be a lot of cases solved if the LE can break him.

[MizSterious]

Uh, these boys seem to have had guns at their heads too--this according to an article in one of the Brit papers.

[mtbopfuyn]

I didn't say he had made bail. Post 20 did say though.

[OldFriend]

Thanks!

[pepperdog]

Let's see, you're 11 years old and have been told if you tell ANYONE you'll be killed. Get it now?

[DvdMom]

Well the Rapist OWNED 3 GUNS Too , I'm SURE they were pointed at Shawn's Head Too ....

YOUR NEXT POINT ???????????

[MizSterious]

I think I should walk away from this thread too. Too many freaks who think the victims should be blamed, not the kidnapper. I don't think it's healthy for my blood pressure levels.

[DvdMom]

I Can tell by your comments you were NEVER Raped , I Wish I Could say the same about poor Shawn who was in the 5th grade & only 11 !

[MizSterious]

Do you ever wonder if some of these apologists might have a pretty good reason for sticking up for a homosexual child predator? Sometimes I do.

[Sue Perkick]

And we don't know what Shawn may have witnessed in the past. I'd be surprised if Shawn was the first. This child was probably petrified into submission. Operative word--CHILD.