Posted on 02/01/2007 6:05:13 AM PST by devane617
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Looks like a 9mm semiauto (held "dumb@$$ gangsta" style) -- with a hollowpoint round in the chamber -- to me...
I'll bet there is some sort of "unsafe storage of firearms" charge they could add to the charges already against Devlin, too.
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OTOH, if the kid did have access to a loaded weapon, why didn't he just shoot the kidnapper and take off for home?
I think all of you guys are going to eventually wake up and realize that Davlin did the kidnapping...the kid stayed of his own free will and became a totally different character. He had thousands of chances to leave. You cannot argue any point saying that the kid was "held against his will". I think people are going to be surprised how this episode comes out in the end...totally different from their original ideas.
Why are these photos being released?
That's an interesting take. I had considered the possibility that Devlin had photos to blackmail Shawn. Devlin could also have photos he could release for the specific purpose of discrediting Shawn as a witness. Could Devlin have given these to a friend to release them to the press, in case of his arrest?
You shouldn't wonder. He was a kid and was kidnapped. The mind is a very fragile thing, more so in a child.
Thank you. Well said. The judgmental people on these threads who are aiming their vitriol at a young man who was kidnapped from his family as a child and raised by someone who thinks he can just take kids from their families make me sick.
Why don't all abused (seriously abused) women just kill their husbands? It is wrong to kill another human being and these people are being psychologically manipulated. You don't even have to be a child like Shawn to have it happen.
I agree. Much ado about nothing. This is fairly common behavior among foolish but perfectly normal kids who live in urban areas or who are mimicking how they have seen others playing gangsta in videos or online.
To me, the most telling things in the photos are the sadness and pain in his eyes and how much he still looked like his missing photo with that haircut--far more than the boy we all saw on Jan. 12th. I hope the press from this point on has the good sense not to release any more photos of this minor who was held captive without the express permission of his parents and law enforcement.
Teenagers are enough to control even when you have strong parents working together. There is no way that I would ever judge Hornbeck.
And look at myspace there are all types of alarming photos on there.
Official: Boy Guarded Other Teen
Feb 01 2:44 PM US/Eastern
By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD
Associated Press Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Abducted teen Shawn Hornbeck was ordered to guard fellow captive Ben Ownby and hide him from police after they were repeatedly left alone in their captor's apartment, an official close to the investigation told The Associated Press Thursday.
Shawn's cooperation with Michael Devlin was the result of what Shawn experienced during his first 30 days of captivity after Devlin allegedly kidnapped the boy in 2002, said the official who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly about the case.
Shawn's isolation and abuse during that first month were so intense that the then 11-year-old's identity was torn apart, the official said. Over time, Shawn began to see Devlin as his protector and surrogate parent in a pattern common to many abuse victims, the official said.
"He's a victim. He was kidnapped. He was taken from his parents. He was forced to live with this guy. He was forced to accommodate," the official said.
The source would not elaborate on what happened to Shawn during the 30 days, but said details of the abuse and captivity would emerge soon in the case against Devlin. Devlin, a 41-year-old pizzeria manager is charged with kidnapping Shawn and Ben in separate remote Missouri towns four years apart.
In a televised interview, Shawn's parents have said that while they have not asked their son about his ordeal, they believe he was sexually abused.
Shawn, now 15, was 11 when he was kidnapped in 2002 from near his home in Richwoods. Ben was abducted in Beaufort on Jan. 8, and a white pickup seen speeding away led police to Devlin.
The boys were found Jan. 12 at Devlin's apartment in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood, about an hour from the towns where the boys were taken.
The night before they were discovered, the official said, Shawn answered the door when authorities arrived to question Devlin. Before Shawn answered the door, he and Devlin told Ben to hide behind the door of Devlin's bedroom and to remain silent. Shawn spoke with the authorities, as did Devlin.
I don't think you should have posted this. This article I do not believe to be true. The DA in Washington COunty has said that any leaks like this are questionable and that reports about Shawn and the time he was with Devlin could be false. No other news worthy site are reporting this yet as fact.
Are you trying to censor me?
This is from AP, generally thought to be a reliable source.
It's disgusting that Hornbeck helped not only to capture Ben, but also helped to hold him prisoner.
Steven Stayner, when confronted with a similar situation, took Parnell's new captive to safety.
no, just think it is irresponsible reporting. Now this article is on Fox sadly enough.
Maybe so, but this is just a continuation of the assault on this child by the pervert. Hope the prosecutor notes that in the trial.
Why is it ok to assault this child's whole being by the court when they are trying the man who is accused of assaulting the boy by kidnapping him?
Does not make any sense to me. Which is getting to be the norm in reguard to many court decisions lately.
I know. You are absolutely correct. It is the boy that is the victim and the media just does not understand the word re-victimize. Anything to get the first scoop, the ratings, not matter whom it hurts. I am thankful to see that other media outlets in St Louis are refusing to mention the story out of protection and consideration of the victim. May we all be so noble and compassionate. Fox is on my nerves, big time.
Shame on them. The perp here is devlin, not the boys.
Please don't confuse analysis with condemnation...
Local (STL) radio hosts were discussing the photos yesterday. The hosts claim to know law enforcement professionals involved with the case, who have told them details off the record. The hosts are 100% certain Shawn was the victim and they said these pictures do nothing to dissuade them. One anonymous LE guy said it was worse than we could imagine. All these people speculating about Shawn had better be crawling on their knees over broken glass to apologize to him when the facts come out. (Of course, I don't know why I should expect that. Even with everything we know about Elizabeth Smart's case, people still want to make up lies about her and her parents.)
See above post.
I sadly think that this is true. I saw this reporter on TV last night. His sympathy was entirely with Hornbeck. He said that you cannot understand this recent story unless you look at the details of the situation after he was captured. I just don't understand all the people here who see these facts coming out about actions Hornbeck took and blame him. Early teenagehood is a challenge for many of the best kids in loving homes. To be kidnapped and manipulated by this unbalanced man is unthinkable.
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