Get the rope!
Oh, no. Who said he wanted to be with this freak? That's just insanity, to believe that. At some point, the kid probably just thought it was pointless to try to escape, and to make the best of it. By the way, on Fox awhile ago, a neighbor said he heard yelling and "thumps" from the apartment where he was being held. The kid was probably beaten regularly.
I realize the poor boy was brain-washed, but it still amazes me that a teenager of all things would be that afraid, he wouldn't call the police. When I think back to my son when he was a teenager....
I understand it happens but I am so strong willed, I always find it difficult to understand.
I Agree 100 % with you Halls !
Even the Fox Newsreporters converted to Islam while being kidnapped & that's WITHOUT being RAPED Repeatly !!!!!!!!!
Shawn WAS ONLY in 5TH GRADE !!! The Preadtor is A FAT Skumbag & He intimated the hell out of the boy !
Who knows the Horrors the poor boy went through .........
I cannot believe how many people at other cites (eg alt.true.crime) are saying the most vile things about Hornbeck. It's just like Steven Staynor all over again-according to the movie about his tragic life, he was all but run out of school after his return by macho thugs taunting him over what had been done to him by his captor. :-( I fear the exact same thing will happen to Hornbeck.
I'm no expert but I think its very likely that once the second kid was "broken in" that Shawn would have been killed by Devlin.
I think that thats the reason why Devlin kidnapped again. Shawn was getting too old for him.
In my opinion, far too little attention is being paid to the low-life perp.
I'd be very surprised if he's never been charged with some kind of molestation charge and that the LSM doesn't really want to report that.
The devil made bail already?
What's got me is Devlin's family. Ok, fine, so they aren't close as some families but come on you can't tell me they were clueless. The pizza place owner said he'd hang out with his brother Jamie and he papered his mom's kitchen or something. Come on, it's hard to keep a secret when everyone is living in the same town. So, your sibling shows up with this kid and no one in the family questions him? And it's been reported that Shawn would call and come into the pizza place but the owner who'd known Devlin for 20+ years didn't wonder. Fine, Devlin isn't the social magnet but I'm sure he has some long time friends. I can understand that neighbors come and go and can't be bothered with who's living next door, and pizza employees have changed during the years, but surely someone during those 4 1/2 years had to have had questions. Couriouser and couriouser.
The POS Devlin did tell Shawn he would be killed according to the stepdad. The part about Shawn thinking his family didn't want him is speculation according to this article.
Devlin must have been very confident that nobody would recognize Shawn. Or, if they did, would do nothing about it. Sadly, and amazingly, he was right.
I've seen HBO specials on kids with life threatening eating disorders, discharged from facilities because their insurance ran out.
I'm certain Shawn will get immediate mental evaluation and care, but I'm not so sure the family can financially keep it up?
It's likely he is going to need counseling for the rest of his life.
sw
The kid developed Stockholm syndrome ... where you identify with your kidnapper and become dependent on him. Won't happen to all kids but this presumed boy diddler degenerate could sniff out such vulnerable boys
He reminded the audience that Shaun was 90 pounds and 11 years old when this all happen, and his captor was 300 pounds.
I have such empathy for this child. He was a small 11 year old when this monster took him. Imagine the reality of this to a child, his whole world taken from him and an angry huge man rules him. His parents don't come to rescue him. The heartache and terror he lived with daily for years. By the time he grew, this sick life was all he knew. Fear, intimidation, and God knows what else. I thank God for all those responsible for rescuing him.
I can't imagine anyone believing that he wanted to stay with this guy - particularly in the beginning. After 6 months any desire to stay was a product of sheer mental and emotional abuse. The kid never had a choice.
I grieved for the most recent kidnapping assuming he was dead. I was overjoyed to learn he was alive - but when they announced a second boy was saved who had been captured 4 years earlier at the age of 10 or 11... I was crushed. My heart ached for his family and for him. They have much to go through still.
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.
wonder how many other children were taken by this pos
This story is practically a carbon copy of the one that formed the basis for the TV-movie "I Know My First Name is Steven," which launched the career of Corin Nemec.
Tragic! This young man will suffer his whole life because of this. Whatever they do to his kidnapper, it won't be awful enough.
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.