Mo. boy apparently had computer access

The Fresno Bee ^ | January 15, 2007 | JIM SALTER

[Enterprise]

KIRKWOOD, Mo. (AP) - While his alleged kidnapper was away at work, teenager Shawn Hornbeck apparently had access to a computer, and may have put photos of himself online and posted a chilling message on a site created by his own desperate parents: "How long are you planning to look for your son?"

A series of Web postings under the name "Shawn Devlin" - Devlin is the last name of the man suspected of kidnapping Shawn and posing as his father - came to light after Shawn's rescue from an apartment in Kirkwood last week.

[devane617]

The weirdness of this story will eventually come out. We have not heard the entire story.

[DCPatriot]

Well, IMO, there are still headlines to be written regarding this topic.

I thought it was unsettling to read that the man worked at a funeral parlor. If I were in charge of the investigation, I would check all the caskets of all the deceased from that funeral parlor while he was employed or had access.

[Just sayin]

Please point out what you are referring to in post 87, while I point you to the words "I THINK".

[soccermom]

Of course he had an opportunity. That has been well established. But it is quite a leap of logic to go from apparent opportunity to "Gee, he must have preferred that!" Do you know what the earliest evidence there is of him having computer access and a phone? Do you have any idea what life was like for him the first year? The second year? Do you have a degree in psychology or personal experience with long-term abduction? It is perfectly fine to say, "I don't get it." It is quite another thing to jump to ill-informed, reckless conclusions.

[soccermom]

"I thought it was unsettling to read that the man worked at a funeral parlor. If I were in charge of the investigation, I would check all the caskets of all the deceased from that funeral parlor while he was employed or had access." Agreed. It sounds pretty creepy.

[twigs]

However, he probably grew to care for the guy

Probably, but it was probably more along the lines of sticking close to the person he needed for protection. Yes, I know, some protection, but Devlin clothed, fed and sheltered him and that's better than being thrown out when you're young. Yes, I imagine he did feel something for the man and it will probably be something he has to come to terms with. May have to work his way through a morass of emotions: pain, anger, caring, embarrassment, guilt, etc. Thankfully, he's got loving parents to help him.

[Halls]

"I think it is quite possible and even fairly probable she had a baby."

Ok, you want to argue you said this? You said it was fairly probable ES had a baby! Sounds like libel to me!

[Halls]

you want to comment on my Grammar on here, but think you know the answer to exactly why Shawn Hornbeck stayed with his captor for 4 years? Please!

[Just sayin]

Of course I don't argue I typed those words. Why should I?

I suppose it would sound like that to you......seeing as how you delete the words "I think". You do understand the difference between someone's thoughts about a subject and accuations that require proof right? Please tell me you do. I sure hope you do.

[DCPatriot]

I don't profess to know more about this topic than you.

You are lying again. Good bye!

[Halls]

ok......

[mel]

So what is Devil tells the poor kid he is going to be killed and his family if he goes to the police. Plus the shame factor, they are told by their captor that families won't want them after they have been sullied. Dumb statement that you made.

[Valpal1]

My postings are genuine and I have real feelings that there is WAY more to the Smart story than we know and I have stated why I feel that way.

Feelings are not facts, nor do you offer any facts to support your feelings other than more feelings and perceptions, which again are not facts.

You are not the first feeling oriented person to voice your opinion on this subject on the internet. This is a really well debated issue on many forums, especially the true crime ones.

Since you are apparrently unable to use the internet to do research I will give you a thumbnail sketch as to why your feelings and perceptions are poorly received by those of us who rely more on logic and facts.

Weight gain can be explained by natural growth and your perception of actual weight gain is just that, a perception. There are many others who look at the same pictures and perceive negligible change in weight for a girl her age.

Also, the main photo distributed to the media was from when she was 13, a year before she was kidnapped and she was 15 when recovered. A two year difference that more than easily accounts for your perception.

KSL news photo cache 1

KSL news photo cache 2

Not of this change my feeling and perception that you are an ignorant and biased gossip either too lazy or to stupid to educate yourself that prefers to deal in speculation and emotion rather than facts or logic.

This picture of Elizabeth Smart (at age 13) was seen across America on billboards, buttons, missing posters, and in the media upon her disappearance on June 5, 2002.

ES (age 15) with her family shortly after her return, she is now as toll as her mother.

[Just sayin]

Who said feelings were facts? YOU DID! If you see no differences in those pictures so be it.

I don't give a flying rats behind how you percieve my perceptions. See that yet?

I like how you say "can be" and state it as fact. Nice. Why is "can be" acceptable to you but it cannot be to me? Explain that on second thought don't, I think it is self explanitory.

Ill bite on the could can maybe might that you pose, notice that is no the fact you pose it to be. It is perception. When on the run weight is gained? That doesn't fit, at all.

Nor does this trial not going forward. Might I be wrong in my perception. Of course. I have said that clearly already in this thread.

At least I will admit, from the very begining, that I have a perception while you state you have all the facts.

The reality is that we don't, not you or I, and what you have is a perception, just like me.

More slamming from you, it seems that is your true goal. That is the goal of a troll.

You have a perception based on what you see and so do I......accept that and move on.

[Halls]

your the idiot who said it was highly probable ES had a baby, not anyone else on here!

[Just sayin]

I said 'I think..', you really must have a mental block on those two words as you dismiss them once again. I have not called you any names, and I have not attacked your positions. Don't you wish you could say the same thing? Get over yourself OK?

[Enterprise]

I can't think there is going to be any claim of "consent" here either. Even if in theory, the first boy went with the suspect voluntarily, there was no lawful court order. In Kaleefornia, it would amount to child stealing, which is a felony, and there would be no issue of consent because absent a hearing or court order, the child at age 11 could not consent to live with a total stranger. The kidnapping of the second boy throws a lot of water on a hoped for defense of consent, because the incident is so new that there was insufficient time to brainwash the second boy. I'm speculating that the suspect will plead guilty and there simply won't be a trial.

[Halls]

saying I think something is fairly probable is pretty much the same thing as saying it is highly likely something is fact. You said it was highly probably ES had a baby! This is libel and not fact or opinion! Why don't you just admit your wrong and starting pathetic gossip here on FR?

[ariamne]

Steven's brother turned out to be the Yosemite serial killer. He raped and murdered at least 4 women.

[Valpal1]

Your perception of weight gain is a perception based on your feelings about the pictures.

My perception that the weight gain was negligible is based on the FACT that the picture circulated in the media is of a 13 year old and the pictures of her return are of a 15 year old.

And that is a reasonable explanation based on the facts of a two year age difference in the photos circulated by the media.

Coupled with the factual statements made by the family spokesperson in response to direct questions made by the media. Then there is the pesky lack of an actual baby or post partum development of breast tissue and the incredibly narrow window of time and additional photos of ES with her captors during her captivity that clearly show a non pregnant ES. All easily avaiable to find on the internet.

See how facts and logic work? But you won't be satisfied with anything less than the words coming from the mouth of the victim herself.

And that is what makes you a nasty prurient gossip.