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After reading about Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownbys kidnappings, read the story of Lauren Spierer, the college student who disappeared without a trace. Craig was a dedicated family man. Retelling of the case of Shawn Hornbeck, who as an 11 year old, was kidnapped, and miraculously survived several years of abuse. Five years later, we watched together as Shawn Hornbeck was found alive. Many have speculated that the teen is a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, a trauma-induced psychological condition in which a kidnapping victim or hostage develops feelings of loyalty toward his or her captor. Hes gotten to where it doesnt bother him anymore., There wasnt a day when I didnt think he was just gonna kill me, Hornbeck told CBS in 2008. Looking at the side of his neck, I could see the pulse quicken, I could see a physiological change, when we would talk about the abduction.. Shawn later reported that Devlin physically abused him and threatened to kill him if he tried to call for help or escape. He said a police report was filed at the time, but years passed and it became a distant memory. He never arrived. A year after ordeal, kidnapped boy doing well. As you know, police found 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck in an apartment of 41-year-old Michael Devlin last week, along with 13-year-old Ben Ownby. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. Devlin was sentenced to 74 life sentences and 170 years of federal time after the 2007 kidnapping of Ben Ownby and 2002 kidnapping of Shawn Hornbeck. Although he did not attend school during the time he was missing, Hornbeck was apparently allowed to leave the apartment unsupervised while Devlin worked as a manager at a local pizza parlor. He and Ben Ownby, another kidnapped boy, were found in the suburban St. Louis apartment of. Their discovery would become known as the Missouri Miracle. Some thought they would never be found alive and their abductor was hiding in plain sight. She still has a scar on her forehead from the incident. He was told to go in first, so as to not raise any alarm with the boys. It is hard to even come up with words to express the feeling. Hornbeck, now 25, attended private school after his rescue and later got a factory job in Missouri, according to the Post-Dispatch. Today, Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby have found some sense of normalcy, living peacefully with their families in St. Louis. Both he and Ben Ownby still live in the St. Louis area. I had a sense very early on, based on the way he was answering questions, that it wasnt quite adding up.. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Hornbeck, now. She lives in Utah with her husband and two-year-old daughter. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. And he said, Ill never forget this, he said, Nah, boy just get in the truck. And thats when I bolted and I ran, said Palmer. If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. In fact, she came very close to solving the case of both boys on her true crime blog just a day before investigators would find them. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Willett and the others saw two boys playing video games in the apartment: Ben Ownby, whom they immediately recognized, and a now 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck. Stayner got in the car and wasn't seen again for eight years. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Mom who lost both sons to fentanyl blasts laughing Biden, Moment teenager crashes into back of lorry after 100mph police race, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Bizarre moments in Alex Murdaugh double murder trial so far, Stolen car crashes into another car causing building to collapse, Ukrainian soldier takes out five tanks with Javelin missiles. Palmer was confident that he now had the identity of the man who tried to abduct him 22 years ago, so he contacted police in Robinson but they suggested he reach out to the FBI since Devlin would have crossed a state line to commit the crime. Ill. coroner explains how wife didnt notice body, Check out these new must-see Missouri attractions, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. But that wasnt his only crime. Shawn told no one about his situation, and nobody in Kirkwood suspected that he was the missing boy from Richmond - 50 miles away. Your email address will not be published. Willett said Devlin broke after she told him that tire tracks could be crucial evidence in Ownbys disappearance. Bens abduction and Hults quick thinking would eventually turn out to be Shawns salvation. One year after Hornbecks release, his parents told PEOPLE he was making progress. But despite his ordeal, Hornbeck remains optimistic about his future. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Just one day before the miraculous discovery, McNamara theorized Ownby was targeted because of his youthful appearance. A man behind the wheel of a white pickup truck knocked young Shawn off his lime-green bike. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Contrary to what Browne told the family on national television, Shawn was still alive. A description of the vehicle that was wanted in connection with Ben Ownby's kidnapping led police to an apartment complex in the 400 block of South Holmes Street in Kirkwood. He even reportedly attended a local school dance in December with a girl students described as his "girlfriend.". He was 57. Police called his parents, who had never given up hope, and gave them the miraculous news that after four years, their son had been found. Ill. coroner explains how wife didnt notice body, Check out these new must-see Missouri attractions, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. On this day in 2007, Shawn Hornbeck was finally reunited with his parents after he vanished without trace while riding his bike in Missouri four years earlier. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. That fall Devlin pleaded guilty to multiple counts of kidnapping and sexual assault and was sentenced to 74 life sentences in Missouri and 170 years of federal time. Required fields are marked *. Washington. FBI and Police from across Missouri started searching four days earlier for Ben Ownby who was kidnapped from his rural bus stop in Franklin County, Missouri. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. After Shawns disappearance, Pam and Craig Akers dedicated every second of their lives to finding their son. Devlin went to Beaufort, Missouri, where he kidnapped Ben Ownby from his bus stop. Visit FOXNews.com's Crime Center for complete coverage. Shawn Hornbeck stays close to his mother, Pam Akers, during a press conference Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, in Richwoods, the morning after he was found along with Ben Ownby in a Kirkwood apartment. Im an important cog in it, but its a personal thing for each boy and their family. Undergoing horrible ordeals as children, from kidnapping to abuse, they all managed to survive and tell their stories. Palmer told News 4 that his father married a woman from Robinson, Illinois and in December 1998 he traveled there with his father and stepmother. Hornbeck and Ownby were discovered after police noticed Devlins white pickup truck in the apartment complex parking lot. Patriot Guard members will escort Akers to his final resting place Tuesday in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest with full military honors. Severe Weather FBI/GettyThis undated handout photo provided by the FBI shows Shawn Hornbeck as he was pictured on a missing person poster from 2002. Thats my first clue. Hornbeck was eleven years old on October 6, 2002, when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. Shawn was 11 when he was kidnapped by Michael Devlin in 2002 near his home in Washington County, Mo. Among them, kidnapping then 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck at gunpoint, then submitting him to years of sexual abuse. (KFVS) Eleven-year-old Shawn Hornbeck went missing in 2002. Its their story to tell.. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. They had been kidnapped by Michael J. Devlin . Terrified, knowing that the man would soon kill her, Alicia struggled to maintain hope that she would be found. We located Ben this afternoon in the City of Kirkwood and we also located Shawn Hornbeck, who was at the same residence. The news spread all across the world. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. He said he plans to continue to seek justice and peace of mind. When investigators confronted Devlin, he finally confessed to Ben's kidnapping - and stunned the detectives when he said he also had Shawn. Today, Jessica is now 35 years old and lives in Texas with her husband and two children. Two federal agentsLynn Willett and Tina Richterasked permission to search the truck, which Devlin allowed. She admitted to still getting scared when walking the streets at night. Contests & Promotions, 2023, The Networks of Mid-Missouri Columbia, MO USA, JC Public Works announces more street closures, Federal grand jury indicts man on hate crime charges after he allegedly shot 2 Jewishmen in Los Angelesin February, All flights grounded at airport near Penn State University over suspicious device, 100 passengers bused to campus, Fire at Indonesian fuel storage station kills at least 16, A string of gruesome cat killings has this Japanese city on edge. Shawns case had gone cold, and very little information about Ben was known. He was 57. On January 12, 2007, police and FBI agents entered the apartment and located Ben Ownby and a second boy sitting on a sofa quietly. His story made national headlines in 2007 as the "Missouri Miracle." In a 2013. In 2013, she said that she has moved on.. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. @shawn_hornbeck Today will always have great meaning for me and my team. In the interview, Oprah asked: 'I had read that you had gone to the Internet site to asked 'how long will you be looking for your son'. How to get started raising backyard, attacked and stabbed Devlin with a homemade ice pick, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, STL Co. stakeholders look for juvenile crime solutions, STL County school district still recovering from, Block party kicks off history making weekend for, Woman shot in Schnucks parking lot in St. Peters, Mo lawmakers back ban on Chinese ownership of land, Lawsuit: Muslims praying at Missouri prison pepper-sprayed, Local organization host fundraiser for Janae Edmondson, Heavy rain, wind slam St. Louis region on Friday, Man shot and killed on his front porch in Illinois, New contract, pay raises expected soon for STL police, Warren County man charged in counterfeit money scheme, TSA at Lambert warns travelers about flights ahead. Using the name Shawn Devlin, he cryptically wrote, How long are you planning to look for your son?. Theyre doing good. He remains on death row as of July 2021, but there have been zero executions in the state of California since a 2006 court ruling on the flaws found in the management of capital punishment. It transpired that Devlin had kept Shawn tied up for a month in his Kirkwood apartment, and even tried to strangle him at one point, but stopped when the boy promised he would never tell anyone. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. But this time, Devlin was seen kidnapping the boy. If it wasn't for Mitchell Hults, a teenage boy who witnessed the kidnapping, the Missouri Miracle probably wouldnt have come true. The two lived alternatively as father and son, or family friends. It was the case of Steven Stayner, who escaped from his abductor after the man took another child. And Devlin would later admit to prosecutors that Shawn was getting too old for him, and he abducted Ben because he looked younger, which proved McNamaras theory. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. ABC 17 News is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Her ordeal was later turned into a Lifetime film in 2018 called Girl in the Bunker. Among them, kidnapping then 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck at gunpoint, then submitting him to years of sexual abuse. Legal Statement. [He] is doing really well, a retired sheriff who worked on his case told the paper. The Twisted Saga Of Michael Peterson, Kathleen Peterson, And The Real Story Behind 'The Staircase', Meet Mehmed II, The Ottoman Ruler Who Conquered Constantinople And The Last Vestige Of The Roman Empire, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. In 2011, she described her kidnapper as a cool mom.. The young boy believed his family would be harmed if he attempted to escape or contact the police. We were sitting in the back seat, he was turned to look at me and I was turned to look at him. The driver, Mike Devlin rushed to Shawn and appeared to be concerned for his safety. Shes now 25 years old, has two sons and lives in Idaho. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Mitchell Hults of Franklin County saw the truck near the scene of the crime, telling investigators. LOUIS - Six months ago, Shawn Hornbeck disappeared again. Craig Akers died July 15, 2019, from bladder cancer. Shawn Hornbeck, left, the boy who was held captive for over four years and finally freed in January from the St. Louis area apartment of Michael Devlin, makes a putt as his dad Craig Akers watches . Investigators say the images show a "different side" of Hornbeck, and they hope that they will help them piece together the teen's puzzling disappearance. Pictured with Hornbeck are his parents. Patty Hearsts Stockholm Syndrome became a talk of the nation as she was from one of the wealthiest and powerful families in the country. .error{color:#000; font-size:14px; font-weight:bold} He was torn away from rural Richwoods, Mo., and taken to Kirkwood, more than 60 miles away. Devlin remains at the state prison in Cameron under protective custody. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Hornbecks life suffered a severe schism when he was allegedly kidnapped at the age of 11. Kirkwood and Glendale police spoke with Shawn Devlin on more than one occasion in the years prior to Michael Devlins arrest. She was found six years later with the help of a grocery store clerk who called the police for her. Kirkwood is about an hour drive from both Richwoods and Beaufort. The following day, the FBI followed a tip on a white pick-up truck that brought them to a pizzeria in Kirkwood. McNamara, who also led the investigation into the Golden State Killer, found many connections between the two boys. Danielle, whos now a teenager, still suffers from developmental issues, but it was last reported that she was enjoying high school. During the show, self-proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne told them Shawn was dead and provided details about the crime that were later proven to be falsehoods. Another child, 13, went missing five years later. During those years of not knowing where Shawn was, Craig reached out to other families. Then read more about Dennis Martin, the six-year-old boy who disappeared in the Great Smokey Mountains. Speaking at the time, Craig said: 'It is the phone call I will remember most for the rest of my life. In 1991, Jaycee, who was 11 at the time, was kidnapped on the street while walking home from school, and she wasnt found for another 18 years. Three days later, two Kirkwood police officers answered another unrelated call at Devlin's apartment building, but as they were leaving, spotted the truck outside. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. It was a bittersweet Christmas for Craig and Pam Akers and their 16-year-old son, Shawn Hornbeck. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Authorities are investigating pictures of Shawn Hornbeck that were apparently taken during the four years the Missouri teen was missing. Pam Akers watched her son, Shawn Hornbeck, leave their home in Richwoods, Missouri, about 55 miles southwest of St. Louis, on the afternoon of Oct. 6, 2002. Inside The Terrifying Kidnapping And Miraculous Rescue Of Shawn Hornbeck. Ownby was kidnapped in January of 2007 in Beaufort and it was during that investigation that Ownby and Hornbeck were found in Devlins Kirkwood apartment. 'We knew the world knew the answer to that, we had been saying all along we would never stop looking for our son. Shawn Hornbeck, 15, gets a hug from his mother Pam Akers as his stepfather Craig Akers touches his head Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007 in Richwoods, Mo. Devlin told FBI agents the reason he began looking for another boy was that Shawn was getting too old. He sat with Willett in the back seat, she told the Post-Dispatch. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey just days after being reunited with Shawn, the Akerses said they believed their son was sexually abused during his captivity. 10 years after the 'Missouri Miracle': Shawn Hornbeck speaks out about his ordeal. 'It's very comforting knowing I'm back with my family, but I've missed out on a lot of stuff,' he said. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. He was transferred to Western Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri. Its finding out who that guy was and what he did to two other kids and that he would have done the same to me. You look at a lot of things," Nothum said. Desperate for help, they appeared on an episode of The Montel Williams Show, where the self-proclaimed medium Sylvia Browne told the couple falsely that their son was dead. #subscriptionResponse{color:#000; font-size:14px; font-weight:bold}. The shocking photos appear to show Hornbeck, now 15,. Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. 90 Day Fiance's Hamza's Green Card Status 'Battle' Amid Memphis Divorce. Jessica O'Connor is a public historian focusing on Deep South Black History with degrees from Winston-Salem State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved Shawn Hornbeck hugs his family after being rescued from the home of Michael Devlin. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Shawn Hornbeck (center) talks with the media about missing women found in Cleveland during interviews in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. He was held by his abductor 200 miles away in Mendocino County, California until he was 14, when he managed to escape with another of Parnells victims, Timothy White. Thats what many folks remember about Craig his selflessness. He glanced up once and then he didnt look at all, she said. One of the most disturbing of the more than a dozen images obtained by KTVI appears to show Hornbeck with his face shrouded in a red bandana pointing a gun at the camera. Sgt. About 19 years (January 2003)Shawn Hornbeck Foundation / Age. Now 34, Carlina goes by Netty and her story has been turned into a Lifetime movie, Abducted: The Carlina White Story. After a dozen days later, Patty was spotted wielding an assault weapon on a bank surveillance camera during an SLA bank robbery. Knowing what its like being on the other side and potentially what may have happened and what may have led up to her final moments and understanding probably a lot of what she was feeling, its heartbreaking.. Im not gonna lie there were times when it seemed like I was better off dead.. Palmer said he was scrolling through stories on YouTube about children whod been abducted and were able to escape later. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Our only wish would have been to help you sooner. Chris Jewers For Mailonline Ownby was taken for five days in January 2007 and the search for him inadvertently solved both cases. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. She linked the two abductions before the authorities did and even used online maps to guess as to where they were being held. Throughout her captivity, Alicia was chained by the neck, sexually assaulted, and her torture was live-streamed. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Shawn Hornbeck was an 11 year old boy who was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friend's house near Richwoods, Missouri. Speaking to the host, he said that he had used the internet to ask his parents a heartbreaking question.