Posted on 01/24/2007 8:24:19 AM PST by Halls
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. - Shawn Hornbeck's parents hope "to step out of the spotlight" to focus on their abducted son's healing now that he has returned home.
That plan to take a lower profile was announced Tuesday during a news conference, as a suburban St. Louis homebuilder detailed plans to build a new house for Shawn and his parents, Craig and Pam Akers. The home will include office space for the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation, which Shawn's parents began as a means to aid in the search for missing kids soon after Shawn disappeared in 2002.
(Excerpt) Read more at belleville.com ...
I honestly have to say, in regards to the Hornbeck situation, they would get the best book/movie deal no matter what route they took. It is an unbelievable circumstance.
And, I think the purpose of the media appearances was to get that over with so they really could fade into their lives peacefully.
Why don't you crawl back under your rock!
Absolutely, a fifteen year old should be involved in many of the decisions made about his future. I suppose you expect a kid to turn 18 and suddenly start making good decisions if they never got the chance to make any before.
"That plan to take a lower profile was announced Tuesday during a news conference..."
What's wrong with this statement?
One of the mistakes that Steven Stayner says was made after he came home is his family still treated him like he was 7, even though he was 14. He really felt trapped again.
That's exactly how I would feel about the Oprah thing. Maybe Shawn will feel like he has some control of his own life if he is allowed input into what happens. Besides, his childhood was stolen, and there isn't any way to ever get it back.
it was the family spokesperson/lawyer who did this and the family wasn't nearby to tell people this. They hired someone to handle the press calling! Do you not understand? The media is hounding them! they had to get them off their back so they hired someone to handle the media for them so they can get on with their life!
Does this remind anyone else of Elizabeth Smart? Where she was seen in public and photographed but never ran and people used to say she wanted to be there, and others said she was too scared?
Yes, I think it's good, too.
I really don't understand all the accusations of "lying" on this forum, when no one posting here actually has ANY explicit facts about anything that has happened.
I don't know if I would have done that, but I understand why they did. First, they allowed him to decide whether or not he wanted to appear. Second, even if he didn't want to appear, I think it would have been a good idea for them to appear without him because they were being hounded with questions. With all the vicious speculation surrounding Shawn, can you imagine how much worse it would be if he had never been seen in public and all interviews were refused? I don't think they had much of a choice. And, even if they did, the parents, and apparently Shawn, felt it was important to speak out to help other missing children. Furthermore, I think in a way it was good for Shawn to appear simply to remove the stigma that he has something to be ashamed of. He did nothing wrong.
"Leave a little room for human frailty here!" LOL! There is no such thing for the "Uber Freepers". They are perfect. They know it all. And they're always ready and willing to tell you where everyone else in the public eye has screwed up --- after the fact, of course.
I agree. His appearance shut up most of those who were speculating about him not wanting to be home or preferring life with his captor. The whole nation was able to see with our own eyes how much he loved his parents, how much he had suffered, and how thankful he was to be rescued.
The media storm was going to happen with or without them simply because of the circumstances of the case. The Akers were able to get out in front of it with positive images and a message of hope. I think they have done very well in a very difficult situation.
How long before the movie/book deal is announced?
I believe what most people are upset with is... the money the Akers may make from this. Never mind that Pam Aker has suffered tremendously with her young 5th grader being snatched away for 4 yrs. Her beauty gone off her face from the grief she has suffered. Never mind that they went thru their life savings to search for him. Never mind that they went thru their retirement fund to find him. Never mind that they have spent the last 4 yrs helping other parents find their missing children, or helped in search and rescue of all sorts. Never mind that Shawns step dad lost a leg while searching for another parents missing child up in Canada. Never mind the sleepless nights, the grief, the heartache. It all boils down to one thing. How much money are these people going to get.
I don't know and I don't care.
Yes, it's sad how people project their own greed onto others and assume they are cashing in. No amount of money would ever be worth what they have suffered and have lost forever. No matter what they do, it will be wrong in the eyes of some.
I just hope and pray they are able to keep their eyes and hearts on doing what is best for Shawn and their family before God. They have done an amazing job so far in how selflessly and generously they have acted on behalf of other missing children, and I believe they will continue to make good decisions. The help is out there, and they should not be shamed into not availing themselves of it either. The road ahead will be hard enough without unnecessary financial hardship.
How long before you state your true feelings of the 300+ pound child porn addict who by gunpoint kidnapped two young children .......
I Can tell you from Burbank LOL !
Care to share your feelings about the 300 + pound child porn addict who kidnapped two children by gunpoint ?
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