Posted on 01/19/2007 11:39:44 AM PST by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
Now that's Stockholm Syndrome.
The article makes it sound like they were there investigating another stolen bike when they were informed that Shawn's bike was missing, as the officer was leaving. The officer spoke to both Shawn & his "father" Devlin.
Oh, I see what you're saying - I thought it was just the opposite.
"... The Kirkwood officer who talked to Shawn in August 2003, Christopher Moss, was summoned to the neighborhood for a stolen-bike complaint. He was getting ready to leave when he was told of another stolen bike, according to Moss' report, obtained by the Post-Dispatch through a public-records request.
"I spoke with Shawn Devlin and his father Michael Devlin," Moss wrote. "Shawn said his bicycle had been left outside on the porch area around 10 p.m. on August 14, 2003, and was missing when he went outside on August 15, 2003, around 8:30 a.m." ..."
You know... if you think about the situation. You have a little boy being held by this man, threatened, told no one will believe him. Then, when the police, supposed protectors, show up, they don't recognize him, and they accept that this man is his father... might start believing those threats.
Exactly. And it was continuously reinforced when no one recognized him - and when a few did, but didn't do anything about it, he felt all alone.
I'm kind of wondering now if the Shawn Devlin is a dissociative persona his mind invented for protection (obviously used by his captor first).
He could tell himself he was play-acting then, but at night when he prayed to God that his parents would find him, he was Shawn Hornbeck.
It reminds me of Miss America Marilyn Vanderbur's story - she was *good child* by day and *bad child* by night when her father was assaulting her. "Day child/night child" she called it.
if you want the sordid details of what the 300# fat oaf did to the less than 100# Shawn, I feel sorry for you.....
an 11 yro boy is supposed to be stronger than adults?....I don't think so....
I made a compilation post of all our "Missouri Miracle" FR threads here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1766736/posts?page=1839#1839
This situation reminds me of a movie I watched named "I Know My Name is Steven" where boys were kidnapped by the same man but at different times through the years and how Steven behaved after reuniting with his family many years later.
"if you want the sordid details of what the 300# fat oaf did to the less than 100# Shawn, I feel sorry for you....."
Go F yourself. That is not what I said. I am amazed that people on a forum such as this would just say...."Can't talk about that, it is not PC". If people really want to help stop this type of thing they need to know HOW it happened so kids, parents, and neighbors can be educated. That includes how he abducted them and how he controlled them.
"You're equating O'Reilly with America?"
Thanks for reading the first line of my post. Now read the rest.
I read it, and I have it the consideration and reply it merited.
"I read it, and I have it the consideration and reply it merited."
Maybe I should replaced BOR with Opra. That be more mainstream for ya?
If you don't agree with the rest of my post then, just say so.
I agree. I can't believe the police officers did not recognize him. This was 2003, 10 months after he was kidnapped against his will at gunpoint, at the age of 11. The gift thing being the typical MO for an abuser. It seems Shawn was let down by a lot of people. This most likely reinforced what the pedophile was telling Shawn how people would react to him (Shawn) . Just another reason he never called out for help. I would like to reinterate this article by Michael Reagan if any still wonder, why? It puts everything into perspective. Everyone needs to read this and educate themselves before posting negative comments about the boy.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1770349/posts
This statement of yours is probably so true and so very sad. Shawn needs our prayers and not our judgement. The pedophile who stole him is the one that needs our justified wrath.
Hi,
I hope you do not mind me responding to you. I have no problem with people wanting to know how and why for for their own well being and that of their children. It is the posters that continually want to bash the child victim before they know all facts that I have a problem with. This article by Michael Reagan is most excellent. I showed it to my husband last night and even he had no idea. It made him understand it better. This article is for public publication however Michael Reagan resists getting more graphic but if you would like to know a little more I could privately email you. Please read this article, pass it around, and tell your children not only how NOT to get kidnapped. But also inform them on what to do in case they DO get kidnapped. We are failing our children by not telling them the whole story. We expect so much out of these little ones. Really in reality, how is a 100 lb child to protect themself from a big adult with muscles and strength. Please read this article and pass it around. Thanks!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1770349/posts
" Children molested will sometimes show affection towards the abusers in hopes of not being molested again (wrongly). "
Exactly, but some people think that means--they LIKE it- or are in agreement. People do break, POW's, abused women, just because a women stays in an abusive relationship out of fear, doesn't mean she likes it. The key word is fear and I don't understand how people don't get that.
If military POW's can be broken and grown women in abusive relationships, how can someone expect a 11 yrs old boy to cope. He is not the problem, it is his abductor.
People go into the survival mode.
He was an abused and exploited eleven year old and is not to be hidden away or blamed by anyone.
His parents are actively involved in finding missing children. They need to let other parents know there are processes out there to help them.
Why should Shawn hide his face? He is to be honored and showered with love and attention.
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