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Mo. boy apparently had computer access
The Fresno Bee ^ | January 15, 2007 | JIM SALTER

Posted on 01/15/2007 2:37:16 PM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at dwb.fresnobee.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: devlin; hornbeck; kidnap
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To: proudofthesouth

The posts he made on the website are very interesting. It's almost like he left some clues....he said he wanted to write a poem to them...he used his real first name (Shawn). I wonder if Shawn liked writing poetry before he was kidnapped. If you want to see it, I'll post the link.


41 posted on 01/15/2007 3:09:50 PM PST by Hildy (Words are mere bubbles of water...but deeds are drops of gold.)
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To: Continental Soldier

If there wasn't any precedent, I'd agree with you. But the Stockholm Syndrome is real. Please don't fall into the same trap. Four years is a very long time and the age of 11 to 15 for a boy is huge.


42 posted on 01/15/2007 3:11:30 PM PST by Hildy (Words are mere bubbles of water...but deeds are drops of gold.)
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To: MeanWestTexan

"Is there any indication of sexual abuse?"

I've seen a recent photo of him, and his eyes look -for the lack of a better word- dead. He knew how to reach his parents, and did so under an alias, with no effort to go back to them. He also knew, from the website, that they were desperate to find him, so the story about Devlin telling him that his parents no longer wanted him is sketchy, at least from the standpoint of the boy's behavior. Even if it turns out that the boy though he was a willing participant, he's a minor child, and therefore not legally accountable for his behavior; Devlin is. He is very likely to have been severly manipulated psychologically, if not also sexually abused.


43 posted on 01/15/2007 3:13:18 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: Just sayin

Here we go...Let's start with Elizabeth Smart. Yes, every blue-eyed blonde Mormon who plays the harp DREAMS of roaming the country in a burqua with two ugly middle-aged CRAZY people. And this little boy. He was 11 years old when he was taken. There is NO evidence he ran away. He took his bike to go to his friend's house. Why do some people always want to blame the victim?


45 posted on 01/15/2007 3:13:28 PM PST by Hildy (Words are mere bubbles of water...but deeds are drops of gold.)
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To: My2Cents

Welcome to most any low-rent apartment complex.

Had one of my tool pushers fall (icy/bad steps at his apt.) and get seriously hurt went to see the family.

The blood/brains were still on the pavement 3 days later.


46 posted on 01/15/2007 3:14:14 PM PST by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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To: MeanWestTexan
I suppose you're right.

I just think the press is treating this aspect in a muted fashion. This may turn out to be the first case in history in which a pederast/child molester who had a teenage boy captive for four years did NOT molest the boy. But I doubt it. I think the news coverage needs to get a bit more direct, and a bit less oblique. The menace of these predators is substantial and the damage they do to children lasts a lifetime. The news media needs to focus on the disproportionate harm they do and the high rate of recidivism they exhibit.
47 posted on 01/15/2007 3:14:37 PM PST by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Hildy; Just sayin

Thank you for saving me typing time, Hildy!!!!


48 posted on 01/15/2007 3:15:08 PM PST by onyx (DONATE NOW! -- It takes DONATIONS to keep FR running!!)
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To: Continental Soldier

He didn't want his parents to know about the sexual abuse and that he got aroused by a pervert. He would rather die.


49 posted on 01/15/2007 3:15:19 PM PST by donna
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To: RegulatorCountry

I am sure you are correct, and equally sure the kid is filled with shame and self-loathing.

Probably didn't think his parents would want a "fag" back.


50 posted on 01/15/2007 3:16:05 PM PST by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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To: DvdMom

"Also Devlin had tons of child porn ..."

Loose the dogs of hyperbole and let the hair-on-fire begin...


51 posted on 01/15/2007 3:16:05 PM PST by gcruse (http://garycruse.blogspot.com/)
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To: Lizarde

I disagree. His personal website? The only thing that tied him was his first name. He looked nothing like the age projection photos they put out.


52 posted on 01/15/2007 3:16:22 PM PST by Hildy (Words are mere bubbles of water...but deeds are drops of gold.)
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To: 1rudeboy

Runaway Train...Soul Asylum..?


53 posted on 01/15/2007 3:16:27 PM PST by mystery-ak (My Son, My Soldier, My Hero........God Speed Jonathan......)
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To: Continental Soldier
But, the amount of time involved, over 4 years, throws all of that into question.

The amount of time only cements the new paths of the brainwashed person. Don't underestimate the malleability of the human mind. Children especially so.

54 posted on 01/15/2007 3:17:38 PM PST by Ramius ([sip])
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Comment #55 Removed by Moderator

To: Hildy

Well, we know one thing. Pedophiles always claim that their victim wanted it.


56 posted on 01/15/2007 3:19:39 PM PST by donna
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To: Just sayin

frankly in these matters, I think the public's right to know ends with the kid's hopefully being found and the perp arrested and fried. No, I don't think we have a right to know the details of what the perp/perv did to the kid. That kid will have enough to face in his/her lifetime without the world knowing every last detail.

Clearly, Ben was abducted from the school bus .. not a runaway. Devlin probably has a clear MO, and in time we will probably learn that he also abducted Shawn.

Ben was only gone a few days, the police may be able to use his more recent experience to get a better picture of how Devlin handled his victims, how he managed to make Shawn dependent on him and not anxious to seek an escape.

Elizabeth Smart was taken from her parents' house. Maybe we shouldn't read too much into these cases. Sometimes a perp is only a perp. Or a perv.


57 posted on 01/15/2007 3:20:12 PM PST by EDINVA
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To: donna

Not only that they wanted it..that they did it out of love. EWWW.


58 posted on 01/15/2007 3:20:16 PM PST by Hildy (Words are mere bubbles of water...but deeds are drops of gold.)
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To: Enterprise

I'll play amateur shrink and suggest that if the young man did this he was experiencing the Stockholm Syndrome. He may have bonded with his kidnapper.


59 posted on 01/15/2007 3:21:17 PM PST by elhombrelibre (Saddam was against Iraq's liberation before the Democrats and MSM.)
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To: RegulatorCountry

Well there was tons of kiddie porn found on Devlin's computer according to a newspaper artlice linked on Drudge

As for sex abuse Why else would he kidnap 2 young boys ......

Devlin was so Brazen he called the cops on his neighbors , no wonder Shawn didn't trust the police .

Devlin probalby made Shawn do some sick gay crap took photos & used that crap to manipulate him more .....

He also probalby beat him senseless + besides the sex crap


60 posted on 01/15/2007 3:23:35 PM PST by DvdMom (Impeach Nifong -)
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