Posted on 01/12/2007 2:39:17 PM PST by cgk
No link yet...
Turns out a friend of my son also knew Shawn as an acquaintance.
This story is far from over.
You know, I always feel remorse for people who get the death penalty, Like Sadam, peterson, etc. even though i really believe they deserve it.
But I have a ten year old boy, and with Devlin, I want him tortured and then killed. If he'd stolen my child for four of the most formative years, I'd go postal on the guy. I'd push the lever of the lethal injection.
I do musical theater (cast, production crew, etc.) and am thus "sensitive" (i.e. educated) to the use of makeup in these circumstances. TV studio lights are VERY bright (one of my husband's closest HS friends is an NBC network honcho; I've been in some studios as well and seen for myself). I would make an educated guess that Oprah's staff did a GREAT job in handling these people - getting them ready for this very public appearance, not just with some nice clothes but also tasteful makeup and hair styling to help them look their best. To my eyes, the cops even had on a hint of stage makeup. ;-)
Oprah does all kinds of shows. Sometimes it's celebs. But it's sometimes people who have been through a difficult experience or are struggling with something, like relationships, health issues, addictions, etc. Those kinds of shows can really be helpful to people watching who are struggling with the same kinds of things. She did a series about pedophiles, and that helped several peds be recognized and captured. Also, the shows she does that I like the most are educational in nature. She has done a series about how to get your finances under control, shows about how to buy the right clothes for your body shape, shows about what life in North Korea is like or about the genocide in Rawanda, interviews with people like Elie Weisel, etc. etc. I guess what bugs me sometimes is that people who don't even watch her show will call her viewers "brainless" and such. I am not brainless, and I do watch her show. Sometimes I don't like the subject matter and I watch something else instead. I do this during my "exercise" time.
I think that the statement was read as an attempt, however distasteful from all sides (except Devlin, his lawyers, and his family), to be "fair". Oprah clearly didn't like having to read it either, but you have to hand it to her for at least making the attempt to do some fair journalism here by giving the opportunity of both sides to have some input.
I believe the parents are going thru a grieving process. They are grieving the lost years and the lost innocence of their son.
Wow, that's amazing!
Please check your FReepmail!
I thought the same thing. I bet having him back isn't as simple as they hoped for. this beloved creature is a stranger to them with a lot of baggage. so sad. And the reality of the implications of his abuse bring up issues of trust with their other children... and the list goes on.
That should give us all some hope that Shawn will be able to adjust into a normal, loving adult life where possible abuse in the past can be put aside and he could have a healthy relationship with a loving woman.
I'd be right next to you probably doing the same.
I had read somewhere they thought there might have been a recent girlfriend. Police were looking for her. I wonder if MD knew about it? He may have. Afterall, MD did allow Shawn some freedoms (in his sick mind he probably thought Shawn earned them for "good behavior") and he did allow Shawn a couple of friends. This part confuses me. MD must have had complete confidence that Shawn would never tell?
I agree.
I just had a thought however in regards to the girlfriend. Maybe Shawn was showing signs of growing rebellious and away from MD which is the reason MD was obviously looking for a younger substitute (Ben). The thought of what could have happened to Shawn, makes me shudder. That devil had a plan.
I'm with you there 100% with the girlfriend theory. Part of Devlin's MO and why he was so successful at hiding Shawn in plain sight was to allow him to do a few - just a few - "normal" things that teenagers would do, and that would include shopping mall hangouts. With the abduction of Ben Ownby as a probable "replacement" (I shudder at the concept), Shawn's days were probably numbered. It will be VERY interesting to follow the trial and see what kind of information comes out about what happened during those four key days where Devlin had two kidnapped children. They must have talked, even in whispers when they thought Devlin couldn't hear them, etc. Who knows? It's all scary and it's certainly all conjecture at this point.
"The people on FR, "Uber Freepers" as I call them (people who claim that they and their children will do the prefect thing in every situation because we taught them to be vigilant, and they will always be armed and have their piece ready for action if anything bad should arise) can go to he!!."
I couldn't quite put my finger on it - but you just did it very well. Uber Freepers - yes that's very good.
These people like to kick others when they're down and already suffering.
Ironic, now that Shawn is free, some of the reaction is probably not much different than what the perp told him it would be.
Oh, I think you can terrorize someone to the point that when you give them freedoms slowly you know that out of fear they will come back to you. I think MD lied to Shawn often that and made up a story about how his parents or sisters would be hurt if he told anyone. I'm sure he told him he would let him have more of a normal life if he kept remembering the threat.
I'm sure we will hear students and maybe even the girlfriend speak out in days, but I think in the end Shawn never talked out of fear.
People just don't understand the control factor someone can have over another just by fear. I don't either, but that doesn't mean I don't realize it isn't possible.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.