Per People:
Those who saw Shawn at the apt complex assumed he was Devlins son. Neighbors noticed he never went to school, figuring he was a drop out. (Apparently this was later on in his captivity that Shawn had more freedom. 11 yr olds do not drop out of school )Sometimes when Mike was at work, Shawn would have the door open. Neighbors would get a glimpse of him playing video games or on the phone. They figured he was a kid whose dad did not care too much about him. Shawn seemed to have some freedom. He even volunteered at the St Louis Cardinals World Series Parade. A friend said it seemed he had a good time.
Police say Shawn did not try to get away because his life and the lives of his family were threatened. Neighbors heard Mike brow beating Shawn. They would here Mike screaming at Shawn, saying, Can't you do anything right?
Shawn may have been aware that the neighbors knew something was wrong but nobody did not do anything or say anything about it.
How far away did Shawn live from his parents? Different town, same town?