How a Kidnapped Boy Readjusts

time.com ^ | 1/19/07 | MICHAEL LINDENBERGER/RICHWOODS

[Halls]

Shawn Hornbeck's parents say they may never know the full story as to why their son Shawn never attempted to contact them or to escape during the more than four years he lived with the man police say abducted him in 2002. But they said comments by Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly that the boy may have enjoyed living with Michael Devlin more than his family had infuriated the couple.

Shawn's stepfather, Craig Akers, said in an interview with TIME late Thursday evening. "Our son was 11 when he was abducted. A child that age can be mentally manipulated in a very short time. Hearing him say what he said absolutely infuriates me. I can hardly even express how mad it makes me to hear that."

[surelyclintonsbaddream]

You are truly sad.

[leprechaun9]

Bill SLEAZEBALL O'Reilly needs to be put into the SPIN cycle. He is a real pimp of the election industry!

[BonneBlue]

Hey, I am sorry, but maybe you should watch the video. This is what OReilly said...the situation in this kids life seems to me he felt was more fun then with his old parents" "there is an element here that the kid liked his circumstances". This "kid" has a name...it is Shawn. If anyone wants to view the OReilly comments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0_CRFFEvIk

[najida]

Kids blame themselves,
When something bad happens, they believe they deserve it, so they feel no one can love such a disgusting creature as they've become....

Toss in fear, a total inability to trust or feel safe,
shame, self hatred etc and you have the cocktail for a damaged child.
Please note,
he was a child of 11 who is turned into a trainwreck by the time he was 15.

Talk to anyone in your community who deals with kids in crisis, foster care etc. Shawn's story is mild compared to most who's hell start at birth. Doesn't matter, the damage is the same.

The fact that you can't understand means you've led a very blessed life. Feel comforted by that.

[Halls]

So, are you saying because Shawn had worn earings he wanted to have a homosexual experience with his kidnapper?

[CindyDawg]

Go back and read some of the posts about Miss Smart. She was 2nd guessed too.

[Psycho_Bunny]

 I wish a formerly molested man or women would call these parent up and explain,  "Hey......parading them around on national TV and before the print media is NOT how you help molested children readjust."

[Psycho_Bunny]

Trust me. The parents are blowing it. Big time.

[eastforker]

No, not at all! I am saying that a young kid was induced into a homosexual lifestyle. Having rings in his ears and lip today say that the lifesyle was cultured! He went on oprah with the rings in his ear and lip, tell me what is wrong with this picture.

[BonneBlue]

You are right about kids blaming themselves. We teach our kids not to talk to strangers, not to get into anyones car and so on and so forth. We expect so much out of our kids to be able to have the power to ward off the perpetrators. The sad truth is, how can a small child ward off a big man? If the child is taken, the child feels tremendous guilt and horror that they did something wrong and it was somehow their fault right from the get go.
I think these ignorant people that insist on blaming the victim, need to educate themselves, or just shut up.

[BonneBlue]

You obviously did not watch the interview or have seen his pictures. He has a haircut with not rings at all. In fact, the night the parents were reunited with their son, the first thing he asked for was McDonalds and a haircut. Give it up already.

[Halls]

No he did not! Did you see Oprah's show? Have you seen the pics from Oprah's show! Shawn was cleaned up with a haircut and had no rings showing and any peircings showing!

get the facts straight before you keep judging this child!

[BonneBlue]

And if they are, that is their choice to make. We cannot judge unless we walk a mile in their shoes.

[najida]

Exactly.

Kids don't think like adults. They don't react like adults to stressors. What Shawn did and is doing is textbook common. If he HAD done anything different, it would be more the exception.

He was just 11, a boy when taken. In as little as a month, his total sense of self could have been totally destroyed.

[Halls]

[IMG]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/HMorse/happyShawn.jpg[/IMG]

[keats5]

"He went on oprah with the rings in his ear and lip, tell me what is wrong with this picture."

Actually, that's false.

[Halls]

let me try this again!

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/HMorse/happyShawn.jpg

[wolfcreek]

If you're going to blame BOR then, blame America. This sort of situation, with child predators or abusive spouses controlling the lives of others will continue. America has become a weak-kneed, lilly-livered society who would rather have the Gov or the courts decide what's best for them and how they should live their own lives. The PC generation, with it's "don't offend anyone or stick up for your own rights" mentality, has brought Americans down to the level of *victims*. We'll all continue to be *victims*, abused and raped by all those We put above us, until We decide enough is enough.

[MPJackal]

"Do you have to see evil in all things"

I have spent 22 years in law enforcement, so yes, I usually do see evil in most things. I also know that not everything is as it first appears. You have the luxury of being able to wallow in ignorant bliss. But some law enforcement type is investigating this. He will ask the tough questions you are afraid to ask. And based on someone with some balls will find out what happened. If the boy is just a victim, that cop's work will help protect other children. And I am curious as to what the truth really is. So blow it out yer ass.

[MPJackal]

You may be right. Maybe I am falling victim to our voyeuristic society. I don't want any explicit details, but I am curious about the dynamics of this pervs ability to control.