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.
Including editorializing in the headline? Great.
How tacky and low rent, the parents going on Oprah to enjoy their "15 minutes". What about a little privacy for the boy? I'll bet he leaves again as soon as he can.
I say good for him! Just because his family and child was victimised doesn't mean he should be silenced from using whatever expertise and authority that comes from experience to earn income while educating others.
Why is it okay for celebrities from athletes, actors and politicians to earn a buck, but not crime victims? It's a free country and a free market and your holier than them grievance is misplaced.
I don't know if it's good or bad for the kids to do interviews so soon. Maybe it's cathartic and freeing for them to do them. Maybe internally they are shouting "Everyone knows! I don't have to hide, lie or cover up cause everyone knows!"
Sean Hornbeck can do an interview everyday as far as I'm concerned. One thing I'm sure of is that he doesn't owe anybody any silence if he wants to speak.
>flamesuit is on<
Society? Those who will be responsible for his fate will have all of the information they need.
>It IS curious to me, though, that the media is entirely avoiding the sexual nature of the crime.<
There are 2 possibilities. First, they want to protect the children from further humiliation, or second, they are pandering to gay activists, who don't want it known that Devlin is a gay pedophile.
I hope they are motivated by the first possibility.
nmh, I understand where you're coming from. It would be wonderful if the family was allowed to have any privacy now that the boys have been found. Think about it for a second though. With the way today's media operates do you really think either family would be afforded anything amounting to any type of privacy? Unfortunately, they're big news now and it looks as if it's going to be that way for awhile as new information comes out about possible other victims.
I'm not a regular watcher of Oprah but if I was going to give an interview to anyone it would more than likely be with her. She's not nearly as intrusive or as aggressive as a lot of people. She also isn't shy about mentioning the abuse/rape/incest she endured as a kid.
It would be great if once kids such as these have been found, they could be left alone by the media. The sensationalizing is going to be there whether or not Oprah's involved or not.
If anything, hopefully Shawn and Ben can take away the idea that while really bad things can happen in life, it doesn't mean one can't rise above it and become successful.
You know Hildy, a couple years ago a lady who was a Freeper had a grown son who had some issue and was disoriented and lost for awhile. There were many people praying for this man, and I remember that we knew he was found, but didn't know what had happened or why ... even though it was a Freeper, I still wanted to know what happened. We had thought about it while we were at work or going about our day, people were driving by the area where he was thought to be, etc, etc. So I understand what you are saying and I agree.
WHATEVER!
The article says -- "Parents think kidnapped son was molested"
Duhhh..., ya think?
Regards,
Star Traveler
Oh my gosh, you have no idea what kind of people the Acker's are and to call the sick is irresponsible and pathetic! I'm ashamed of some of you freepers on here pointing the finger at Shawn and his parents!
You have no idea what the hell this family has gone through! Back off people!
I'm disgusted with this thread and the majority of the posts on here calling the parents sick! This is disgusting!
The more people this kind recounts his story to before trial of this dirtbag, the more diluted his testimony becomes. The defense attorney will try to show that some or all of his story was suggested to him or 'planted' during these conversations. The DA needs to have the boy interviewed on tape by a professional, then counsel him, his family and everyone involved to STFU.
It's time for this bloated cow to be out to pasture. Africa maybe!
Do you have a picture of this sicko?
I didn't call anyone anything. You better read my post again, s-l-o-w-l-y. I just said things seemed suspicious to me, and I reserve the right to my opinion.
BUT they sure are free with their judgements.
I'm not even going to reply anymore. Just sit back and watch how many people comment on what they obviously know so much about.
Exactly. I've known about Shawn Hornbeck missing 4 years ago and the hell his parents have gone through to find him and to help other people who have children missing. And than to come on here and read people judging this family when knowing absolitely nothing compared to some of us other freepers who know way more is disgusting!
What are you saying? This man should be tried, but we shouldn't be able to know what he's charged with or see the evidence presented against him?
I thought we had a more open judicial system than the Chicoms.
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