Posted on 01/15/2007 8:27:11 AM PST by Halls
Kidnap victim Shawn Hornbeck was "brainwashed" into staying with his abductor after being told his parents no longer wanted him.
His kidnapper also threatened to shoot the 15-year-old after snatching him off the street.
Friends of the teenager have revealed Michael Devlin, 41, had at least three guns in the apartment where Shawn was held captive.
Tony Douglas, 15, who was Shawn's best friend, said: "We both knew there were guns in the house. Michael told us that he had the guns and were for his protection."
Shawn's stepfather Craig Akers, 45, has revealed his son's life was threatened by Devlin while he lived with him in a ground floor flat in Kirkwood, a suburb of St Louis, Missouri.
(Excerpt) Read more at thisislondon.co.uk ...
You attacked the mother without any knowledge of what really happened. You should reevaluate your comments.
I didn't attack you. I just suggested that you were projecting what you think you would do in this situation onto what you think all other people should be doing.
No he did NOT
Oh Thankyou!!!! I was ready to go postal!
What about those Japanese people who were kidnapped by Koreans and they didn't want to go back to Japan
You know, I don't disagree with what they did. Lets go in, let the cameras snap all of the shots that they can, get it over with. That is better than having the media camp outside of our house and report every movement, snap a picture of you every time your face appears.
He reminded the audience that Shaun was 90 pounds and 11 years old when this all happen, and his captor was 300 pounds.
You're welcome. BTW - no mail today.
:~ )
lol! Thanks for the reminder as I would have been eagerly checking for BILLS :)
What bothers me too, are his parents thinking that Shawn can make all his own decisions. They don't even know all he's been thru. He's still 15, and needs the guidance of his parents. He needs protection, so he doesn't do things now that hurt him even more years down the road.
They can't be leaving everything up to him right now.
I didn't attack anyone, you are overly defensive on this issue. Your remarks are offensive, you're the one who is projecting. I was simply questioning. Lighten up a little, it makes life a lot easier.
I have such empathy for this child. He was a small 11 year old when this monster took him. Imagine the reality of this to a child, his whole world taken from him and an angry huge man rules him. His parents don't come to rescue him. The heartache and terror he lived with daily for years. By the time he grew, this sick life was all he knew. Fear, intimidation, and God knows what else. I thank God for all those responsible for rescuing him.
I'm digusted eith so many on here putting blame on this child. Shawn was kidnapped, probably brainwashed, probably molested, probably had Stockholm syndrome, and many other things, but some on here want to suggest he is at fault!
The child is never at fault, the pervert who kindapped him is the one who is at fault!
"Maybe Shawn felt he couldn't trust the police."
BINGO!!!
It would depend if I thought my parents were dead , as Shawn was told . I MIGHT feel after getting raped repeatedly that I coulndn't TRUST any ADULTS esepecially Policemen . Devlin threatened to call the cops all the time ... sHAWN MAY HAVE BEEN GANG-RAPED With a another of Devlin's Adult Skumbags claiming to be a cop .....
They was tons of child porn on the computer . From past articles the Child porn addicts STAY IN TOUCH With Each Other & SHARE PHOTOS To OTHERS !
Shawn could have VERY Easily Been Gang-Raped & Forced To Do Disgusting Things !
ALSO They ARE PROBALBY Pictures Of Shawn Doing GAY CRAP & THAT Would WEIGH on one's mind & Shawn felt he had NO Right to a NORMAL LIFE !!!!!
NO , I Wouldn't Trust A Cop if I was in that situation !
There was a terrible case awhile back in CA. A monster female had 5 kids-2 boys, 3 girls-and she adored the boys and hated her daughters. She hated them so much that she physically abused them, forced them into prostitution, and ultimately murdered 2 of the girls (forcing the boys to help dispose of the bodies in fires).
One of the girls who was later murdered escaped and went to the police. She told the police everything. And psycho mom shows up, explains the daughter is a pathological liar-and the girl was returned to her custody.
It is not at ALL unusual for kids to assume that no one will believe their word over an adult. So it's VERY possible Shawn calculated his chances of asking for help, being disbelieved, and being returned to a now-enraged captor who might make his captivity far, far worse , if he didn't outright kill him.
I told a friend that I was amazed how both parents reacted. There must be some guidance on this because both sets let the child be "comfortable" at home. Shawn's parents told how they were in another room listening to him visit with others and how he would say he remembered.
The other family allowed Ben to go to his room and play video games.
I would have the kid in my room either sleeping on my bed, or I would be in their room sleeping on the floor.
I know that some of the problems Steven Stayner relayed working through is his parents treating him like he was still 7. They hadn't progressed while he had.
I believe the correct term for this thought process is "learned helplessness".
Eva, you said that "mom dragged him there." You are being overly aggressive toward this mother.
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