Posted on 01/18/2007 3:55:58 PM PST by devane617
ST. LOUIS - The parents of a kidnapped Missouri boy said Thursday they believe their son was molested during the four years he was missing, and his grandmother claimed his captor had awakened the boy every 45 minutes, apparently as a way to control him.
The comments came the same day the man suspected of snatching 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck in 2002 pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping another boy on Jan. 8.
Michael Devlin, a 41-year-old pizzeria manager, was accused of taking 13-year-old Ben Ownby just after he got off the school bus in Beaufort. A schoolmate's tip about a white pickup truck helped lead authorities to Devlin's suburban St. Louis apartment and to the dramatic rescue of Ben and Shawn on Jan. 12.
Prosecutors said Devlin, who also is charged with kidnapping Shawn, terrorized the boy with a handgun to get him to cooperate.
The case has prompted authorities to investigate Devlin in cases involving two missing boys and one girl in eastern Missouri dating back to 1988.
During an interview with Oprah Winfrey on a show that aired Thursday, Shawn's parents said they have not asked their son what happened on the advice of child advocacy experts.
"OK, I'm going to go there and ask you, what do you think happened? Do you think he was sexually abused?" Winfrey asked Shawn's parents, Craig and Pam Akers.
Both nodded and said, "Yes."
While it is The Associated Press' policy not to identify alleged victims of sexual abuse in most cases, Shawn's case has been widely publicized and his name is well-known. Also, the family has gone public, conducting several national interviews.
Shawn's grandmother, Anna Quinn of St. Louis, told the AP Thursday that the boy has not spoken Devlin's name, and that he has said little to relatives about what he went through. But Shawn did tell his family that at times during his captivity, he would be awakened every 45 minutes by his captor.
"Think to yourself when you don't get enough sleep," Quinn said. "He had to do something to get his cooperation."
Shawn, who had dark floppy hair and piercings in his face when he was found, had a cleaner look in a taped interview with Winfrey. He said he always hoped for a reunion with his family.
"If it wasn't for Ben, I might not be here right now," Shawn said. "I'm thankful that he held in there for those few days. I told myself a long time ago I never wanted any kid to go through what I went through."
Shawn said he was not ready to discuss details of his abduction and the subsequent 51 months he spent living with Devlin. Winfrey said the boy told her off-camera that he was "terrified" to contact his parents during the last four years.
Devlin's attorney, Michael Kielty, declined to respond to the claim of sexual abuse, saying he hasn't seen evidence in the case. "The only thing I have is an allegation," he said.
N.G. Berrill, a psychologist and director of the consulting firm New York Forensic and professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said it makes sense to look into old cases now that a suspect is in custody.
Devlin "may have tried this before and not known how to pull it off," Berrill said.
He said a serial kidnapper tends to be "an isolated, socially awkward individual ... the kind of person people say that seemed OK and people didn't get to know them.
"He looks like an average Joe," Berrill said. "I suspect he has this need to keep kids. He's sort of collecting children."
Lincoln County, Mo., authorities called Devlin the "most viable lead" in the case of Charles Arlin Henderson, who was 11 when he disappeared while riding his bike in 1991 and has never been found.
The boy, known as Arlin, was, like Ben and Shawn, about 100 pounds and from a rural town about an hour from St. Louis.
"We can't discount him in an investigation into any missing child," Lt. Rick Harrell said.
What, Springer already booked?
I agree. Why prolong this, why not get on with their lives in private. They have enough problems w/o compounding the issues for the poor kid.
The sexual angle has been missing entirely from the wire stories. You know it's there.
Although the Shawn Hornbeck kidnapping was not a big media event like the Smart case...the people who were involved with trying to find Shawn were dedicated to that end for over four years. They used the media as best they could. They were on the Montel show. I remember actually getting an email about it...and I live in Arizona. It was one of those grassroots internet things. The Hornbeck's started a foundation, and they have dedicated their lives to it. I believe they went on TV for alot of reasons. One was to thank the people who helped them never give up and to provide hope for the many families who still have loved ones missing.
Trying to get media attention to abet their pain has been their mission for a long time. It makes sense to me that they would use it to share their happiness as well.
It's just the world we live in. Just because YOU wouldn't do it, doesn't mean these people are bad for doing it.
Although the Shawn Hornbeck kidnapping was not a big media event like the Smart case...the people who were involved with trying to find Shawn were dedicated to that end for over four years. They used the media as best they could. They were on the Montel show. I remember actually getting an email about it...and I live in Arizona. It was one of those grassroots internet things. The Hornbeck's started a foundation, and they have dedicated their lives to it. I believe they went on TV for alot of reasons. One was to thank the people who helped them never give up and to provide hope for the many families who still have loved ones missing.
Trying to get media attention to abet their pain has been their mission for a long time. It makes sense to me that they would use it to share their happiness as well.
It's just the world we live in. Just because YOU wouldn't do it, doesn't mean these people are bad for doing it.
Likes to "collect kids"?
Right ... and DO what TO them?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ?
This is a DUH alert:
"ST. LOUIS - The parents of a kidnapped Missouri boy said Thursday they believe their son was molested during the four years he was missing, ..."
It's rather OBVIOUS that is what went on. I don't know why they even have to ask the question. He was "collected" for the purpose of being sexually ,molested whenever it suited Devlin.
"What, Springer already booked?"
That'll probably be next week.
This is awful how they are parading these kids, VICTIMS, around.
I would be more surprised if there was nothing sexual going on there, than if there was.
Has anyone seen a photo of Owenby's sister? She really has a similar "look," to the fifteen year old ... the black hair, the piercings, the dark clothes.
I was flamed by "all knowing" Freepers who said I was way off when I said neither of these kids should have been anywhere Near a camera yet! Well, the Maroons who are "experts' including the tv media "brains" decided this was just ducky!
No one thinks its a big deal that a child who may have been molested and tortured should not only be identified, but also paraded in front of cameras. And of course, no therapy or just time to regroup with his family....just have him be interviewed right away.
And the parents...OHHH...they are big stars on Oprah now!
Treating the boys this way ....this is PORNOGRAPHIC! and all for TV ratings! How disgusting! and now the parents cash in!
I am furious about this, but more so that NO ONE thinks there is anything wrong with this!
sick parents already cashing in on their kids kidnapping
it doesn't NEED to be out there. That part of the ordeal surely wont help the kid down the road now will it?
The perp is a "collector." He has a "type" that he seeks. And he replaces the subject when he gets "too old." He may have murdered prior victims when they got to old to interest him.
It is unfortunate that there is no state law under which he can be executed. However, in prisons, "baby rapers" are at the very bottom of the social order, and they do not tend to live well, or long, in prison. Sometimes, justice is both rough and accurate.
Congressman Billybob
"I am furious about this, but more so that NO ONE thinks there is anything wrong with this!"
I also don't like what's going on.
Someone needs to gently talk to these misguided parents ... .
Let me take a wild guess and say that Shepherd Smith reported this.
Several of us were talking as soon as the story broke that the guy was an obvious homosexual. It was just a matter of time before the embarrassed kid spoke up. This guy just circumvented going through the schools and the gay-straight alliance crowd so he could have immediate access.
I think they ought to live the boys alone. The media should just stop and wait. Being away from your parents for so long and having tv cameras thrust in your face can't be good for the boy's mental state. I am sure he just wants to be left alone and learn to know his family again. Now that the parents thanked the media it ought to stop. Let the boy live his life and interview him later on in his life... IF he wants to.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.