Even now theyre strong together, said Jason Huncovsky, Akers son-in-law. On Jan. 12, 2007, police serving an unrelated warrant at the apartment complex where Devlin lived in Kirkwood, Mo., spotted a white pick-up truck that matched the description of the one reportedly used in the abduction of Ownby four days earlier in Beaufort, Mo. The bill was sponsored by Arizona Representative Paul Boyer. They've changed, but I could recognise them in 20 more years, instantly,' he told Winfrey, before adding that while he had access to the internet and a phone, he was unable to contact them. Devlin went to Beaufort, Missouri, where he kidnapped Ben Ownby from his bus stop. Danielle, whos now a teenager, still suffers from developmental issues, but it was last reported that she was enjoying high school. After 13 hours, and with the help of their bus driver, they managed to break free and were rescued. Prosecutors in Franklin, Washington, and St. Louis counties hit Devlin with dozens of charges, including kidnapping, use of a deadly weapon, molestation, and production of child pornography. The shocking photos appear to show Hornbeck, now 15, inside or near the apartment of Michael Devlin, the 41-year-old man charged with kidnapping him and 13-year-old Ben Ownby. During the investigation we found out that he did go looking for other children and he had about a sixty-mile radius around the area where he lived going over into Illinois and into Missouri, said Toelke. Pedophile Issues Agonizing Confession About Boys He Held Captive When Craig Akers son, Shawn Hornbeck, went missing, Akers also helped other parents find children who had disappeared. Devlin was handed multiple life sentences for a total of more than 4,000 years. Is dumpster diving legal in Missouri and Illinois? Thats my first clue. But that wasnt his only crime. Authorities are investigating pictures of Shawn Hornbeck that were apparently taken during the four years the Missouri teen was missing. Shawn Hornbeck In 2002, Shawn was abducted while riding his bike with a friend and was found five years later. In the same interview, Shawn said he spent his days sleeping and playing video games and was instructed to tell people he was being homeschooled. He spoke to reporters in 2013 following the dramatic discovery. During the conversation, Willett cajoled a confession from Devlin. 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. I just wanted to walk away and the guy got upset, I dont know, irritated. I have them because I survived.. Inside, Willett said, Hornbeck and Ownby were playing video games., Ben just shot up and was in that fight-or-flight [mode], Willett said. The following day, the FBI followed a tip on a white pick-up truck that brought them to a pizzeria in Kirkwood. But despite his ordeal, Hornbeck remains optimistic about his future. He was told to go in first, so as to not raise any alarm with the boys. He never arrived. Speaking out for the first time, Shawn Hornbeck says his four years of being held captive . Pictured with Hornbeck are his parents. Washington. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. How Michelle McNamara Solved Shawn Hornbeck's Kidnapping Case True Story The officers questioned Devlin, but he refused to let them search his apartment. Lynn Willett (@lynnwillett9) January 13, 2015. Shawn, then 15, told his 41-year-old captor that . All rights reserved. They spent every penny they had to find Shawn, and made multiple media appearances to raise awareness. Undergoing horrible ordeals as children, from kidnapping to abuse, they all managed to survive and tell their stories. Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. His story made national headlines in 2007 as the "Missouri Miracle." In a 2013. I had a sense very early on, based on the way he was answering questions, that it wasnt quite adding up.. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. He bound Shawn Hornbeck, tied him to a futon or a couch inside the apartment and duct taped his mouth closed, assistant prosecutor Rob Livergood told the court. 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. Willett said Devlin broke after she told him that tire tracks could be crucial evidence in Ownbys disappearance. The discovery that Hornbeck was still alive after his abduction near Richwoods in 2003, was dubbed, The Missouri Miracle. The second boy was Shawn Hornbeck, who had disappeared more than four years earlier from his own rural neighborhood of Washington County. In 1987, the world watched in anticipation as Jessica, then 18 months old, was pulled out of a well after being trapped there for two days. We sat and spoke for quite a while, Willett told the paper. The disappearance and reunion with Shawn made international headlines. Hornbeck, now 25, attended private school after his rescue and later got a factory job in Missouri, according to the Post-Dispatch. In April 2011, a fellow inmate attacked and stabbed Devlin with a homemade ice pick. Now 30, although Elizabeth has spoken out publicly several times about her ordeal, she keeps a low profile. In her post, Smart says So happy to welcome Olivia to our family! In 2002, Smart was kidnapped at age 14 from her Salt Lake City bedroom by street preacher Brian David Mitchell and held captive for nine months. As he peddled through the small-town streets he was bumped by a white truck. ABC 17 News is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Devlin pleaded not guilt to two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed criminal action, and is being held on $1 million bond. Kidnapped boy recounts 4 years of captivity - NBC News Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Im an important cog in it, but its a personal thing for each boy and their family. Today, Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby have found some sense of normalcy, living peacefully with their families in St. Louis. Most recently, Smart spoke out after Gabby Petitos missing person case took the nation by storm. 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. Ownby had been missing for four days when police entered a small apartment in Kirkwood, Missouri, to find both boys. Listen Now On Jan. 12, 2007, Ben Ownby, 13, and Shawn Hornbeck, 15, were saved from Michael Devlin's apartment in St. Louis County. Retired Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke was heavily involved in the search for Ownby and subsequent investigation of Devlin since Ownby was kidnapped in Beaufort. 90 Day Fiance's Hamza's Green Card Status 'Battle' Amid Memphis Divorce. He was 57. ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOV) A Canadian man learned the man who tried to abduct him years ago, was Michael Devlin. During those years of not knowing where Shawn was, Craig reached out to other families. Stayner got in the car and wasn't seen again for eight years. I remember yelling out, I was scared of waking up my dad, Thats, thats him, Thats the same guy from Robinson.'. The shocking photos appear to show Hornbeck, now 15,. 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. Shawn Hornbeck hugs his family after being rescued from the home of Michael Devlin. Hornbeck was reported missing by his family on Oct. 5, 2002, after he didn't return home from school in Richwoods, Mo. He was 11 years old. Today, St. Louis Talks spoke to then Franklin County sheriff Gary Toelke, who led much of the investigation after Ownby was taken four days earlier. Its their story to tell.. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 15. Shawn had taken this path many times before but this time, Shawn passed by Mike Devlin who bumped him with his truck. Revisiting the 'Missouri Miracle' two decades after Shawn Hornbeck The young boy believed his family would be harmed if he attempted to escape or contact the police. O'Reilly: Abducted child "liked his circumstances," had "a lot more With the world transfixed on his story, Shawn spoke to Oprah Winfrey about his experience in 2007. Five years later, we watched together as Shawn Hornbeck was found alive. Looking back at the kidnapping of Shawn Hornbeck She lives in Utah with her husband and two-year-old daughter. Anytime a child was missing he was the first onesick as a dogget up and try to help, said friend Angela Forshee. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Daily News & Weather Updates California. 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. Retelling of the case of Shawn Hornbeck, who as an 11 year old, was kidnapped, and miraculously survived several years of abuse. That is, until April 2020 after he started volunteering for a non-profit in Canada called, Operation Underground Railroad, that works to combat human trafficking. Sweet because Shawn was back home after having been . Kirkwood is about an hour drive from both Richwoods and Beaufort. In 1996, Burkes sister, JonBenet Ramsey, was murdered in their Colorado home. 'Missouri Miracle': Today Marks 14 Years Since Shawn Hornbeck And Ben On December 4, 1972, Stayner, age 7, was abducted in Merced, California by child molester Kenneth Parnell. Shawn Hornbeck: FBI Agent Reveals How Mike Devlin Confessed - Peoplemag Eventually, Willett was able to get a confession from Devlin, and the FBI raided his apartment in search of the boys. 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. The two lived alternatively as father and son, or family friends. She linked the two abductions before the authorities did and even used online maps to guess as to where they were being held. Our only wish would have been to help you sooner. It was 1980. It was strange. Devlin eventually allowed Shawn to go out with friends, get a cellphone and go on dates, but he didn't go to school. Who was Kenneth Parnell's accomplice? He said he plans to continue to seek justice and peace of mind. Market data provided by Factset. She admitted to still getting scared when walking the streets at night. Devlin pleaded guilty more then 70 times Tuesday to a litany of horrific crimes. They had been kidnapped by Michael J. Devlin . The kidnapper put the 13-year-old in a white Nissan pickup truck and sped away, but not before Mitchell Hults, one of Ownbys friends, got a good look at the vehicle and provided a detailed description to authorities. On Oct. 6, 2002, 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck straddled his lime green bike and headed to a friends house near Richwoods, Missouri, a small town just outside of St. Louis. The pair talked for hours. Franklin County Sheriff talks day Shawn Hornbeck was found 20 years ago 00:00 / 07:16 Hornbeck suffered physical, psychological and sexual abuse at the hand of Delvin, who reportedly was once a friendly and outgoing person but became more reclusive after some issues with his health. Craig sadly passed away in 2019 from bladder cancer aged 57, with Pam saying she was 'so grateful he got to spend more time with Shawn'. He would just sit and look at it and stare at it, and he would just talk about these women, and then when he was done, he would turn and look at me, and he would be like, Now were going to do this,' she said in a video about her convicted abductor, Brian David Mitchell. Ill. coroner explains how wife didnt notice body, Check out these new must-see Missouri attractions, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Efforts to reach Willett Tuesday were not immediately successful. They also started the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation to help other families find their missing and abducted children. Hornbeck was restrained for the first month and nearly strangled by Devlin. Shawn always took the same route and his parents trusted him to ride alone. On Jan. 8, 2007, Ben Ownby was taken while waiting at a bus stop in Beaufort, located in Franklin County. This undated handout photo provided by the FBI shows Shawn Hornbeck as he was pictured on a missing person poster from 2002. One of the store managers, a man named Michael Devlin, owned the truck. "I've begun the process of healing and look forward to making up for the time I have lost with my family and education," he. That evening, then-Fraklin County. .error{color:#000; font-size:14px; font-weight:bold} 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. Photo: AP Photo/Tom Gannam; AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, 24 Years After White Supremacists Lynched Her Dad, Daughter Speaks Out About Trauma and Journey to Peace, Daughter Sues Hospital for 'Assault, Battery, and False Imprisonment' of Kidney Patient Father, Retired Mo. Have a tip? What Shawn Went Through - Newsweek About 19 years (January 2003)Shawn Hornbeck Foundation / Age. One year after Hornbecks release, his parents told PEOPLE he was making progress. Shawn Hornbeck was missing for over four years before being discovered on January 12, 2007, along with another teenage boy. 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.. Since then, Tanya, now 40, has released a memoir, Memoir of a Milk Carton Kid: The Tanya Nicole Kach Story, and lives in Pennsylvania. Shawn Hornbeck, The Kidnapped Boy Behind The 'Missouri Miracle' Shawns case had gone cold, and very little information about Ben was known. Finding out, what Palmer is convinced is, the identity of the man who tried to abduct him, has taken an emotional toll. In 2005, serial killer Joseph E. Duncan III broke into 8-year-old Shastas home, killing her mother, stepfather and brother and kidnapping Shasta, who was tortured for two months before being found by a Dennys employee, who called the police. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. We would talk about a lot of nonsignificant things, and then, once I would steer the conversation back, our focus was on Ben, Willett said. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Once Willett got in line for lunch at the pizzeria, Devlins behavior immediately raised her concerns, she told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a Wednesday interview. Shawn Hornbeck married and became a father. 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. At the time of his arrest, Hornbeck also lived with Shawns older sisters, Jackie and Jennifer, who were then 7 and 6, respectively. Legal Statement. Mitchell Hults of Franklin County saw the truck near the scene of the crime, telling investigators. Al Nothum of the Missouri Highway Patrol said the first thing police want to know is who took the photos. Shawn said the message had been a cry for hope, and at the time, he just wanted his life to get back to normal - to return to school, to work and to spend more time with his family - including his two sisters. She was kept in an underground bunker for 10 days before being rescued. 'It was surprising. The man who fathered kidnapped teen Shawn Hornbeck was a convicted sex offender who did three years in a Missouri prison on drug and sodomy charges, The Post has learned. Shawn Hornbeck was an 11 year old boy who was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friend's house near Richwoods, Missouri. Another child, 13, went missing five years later. Among them, kidnapping then 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck at gunpoint, then submitting him to years of sexual abuse. Shawn Hornbeck's father, Craig Akers, passes away at 57 Authorities are investigating pictures of Shawn Hornbeck that were apparently taken during the four years the Missouri teen was missing. or redistributed. He was sexually abused, with Devlin later telling FBI agents that as Shawn got older, he had begun looking for a younger boy to take. After Shawns disappearance, Pam and Craig Akers dedicated every second of their lives to finding their son. This time it was from the lives of those who had known and cared for him during the four years he was missing, those who had unwittingly. How to get started raising backyard, 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. Finding Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby - stltoday.com When the boys were found Gary Toelke, the Franklin County sheriff at the time made the announcement outside his office at a press conference. But thats exactly what happened, the retired agent remembered in a recent interview looking back on the Missouri Miracle, when two missing boys were discovered abducted by the same man. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. In an interview on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Hornbeck said he was too "terrified" to try to escape from Devlin's clutches. 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. Hornbeck was eleven years old on October 6, 2002, when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. In Beaufort, on January 8, 2007, he kidnapped Ben Ownby from a bus stop, with Shawn in the pick up truck with him. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, BEFORE YOU GO: What to know for CITY SCs home opener, Win a Midday Makeover from Studio STL and West County, Hold my beer its time to sign up for the St. Patricks, Tims Travels: Dreaming in silestone and slabs its, Downtown is turning green for St. Patricks Day Parade, The 7brew Crew brings kindness, joy and of course,, Freshen up finds: Give your skin a slug-hug, What the Cluck! Is Every Duggar Ridiculously Messy? You look at a lot of things," Nothum said. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. You have to stay strong the whole time and you have to just have that strength and just know one day you will be reunited with your family.. Shawn was with him in the pickup. Willett was following a lead on Jan. 12, 2007, in the case of Ben Ownby, a 13-year-old who had gone missing days earlier. Devlin pleaded guilty to all the counts against him and was sentenced to 72 years behind bars. A year after ordeal, kidnapped boy doing well - TODAY.com The guy tried to entice me to his vehicle. In 2013, she said that she has moved on.. The white beat-up white truck that Mitchell described to police sat outside the apartment. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, BEFORE YOU GO: What to know for CITY SCs home opener, Win a Midday Makeover from Studio STL and West County, Hold my beer its time to sign up for the St. Patricks, Tims Travels: Dreaming in silestone and slabs its, Downtown is turning green for St. Patricks Day Parade, The 7brew Crew brings kindness, joy and of course,, Freshen up finds: Give your skin a slug-hug, What the Cluck! If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here. , updated He sat with Willett in the back seat, she told the Post-Dispatch. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. His widow, Pam, and son Shawn apparently share a special bond that is helping them during this time of loss. Is dumpster diving legal in Missouri and Illinois? Both boys were discovered inside Devlin's apartment shortly thereafter. She and another agent headed to the Kirkwood pizzeria because its manager, Michael Devlin, owned a truck that looked suspiciously similar to one that had been seen near the site of Ownbys abduction. Abducted from the street in 2002 when she was just six years old, Erica made national news when she managed to break free from her kidnappers by chewing through the duct tape that was bound around her wrists. Devlin told FBI agents the reason he began looking for another boy was that Shawn was getting too old. McNamara also correctly theorized that Devlin was drawn to the boys because they looked much younger than their actual ages. Ownby, 23, lives and attends school in the St. Louis area, according to the Post-Dispatch. Hornbeck, of Richwoods, Mo., had disappeared on Oct. 6, 2002, while riding his bike to a friend's home. He said a police report was filed at the time, but years passed and it became a distant memory. #subscriptionResponse{color:#000; font-size:14px; font-weight:bold}. Shawn Hornbeck married and became a father. I never forgot his face, he said. Shawn Hornbeck on growing up, moving on and offering hope document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Hornbeck was eleven years old on October 6, 2002, when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. 'Missouri Miracle': Today Marks 14 Years Since Shawn Hornbeck And Ben Other members of the organization founded the Missouri Valley Search and Rescue Team to continue the mission of helping families of missing children and adults. 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. One search, two boys found: A look back at the Missouri Miracle Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KMIZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News The late Walter. The driver, Mike Devlin rushed to Shawn and appeared to be concerned for his safety. Devlin confessed to both kidnappings. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved In 1972, when he was just 7 years old, a stranger convinced him that his mother had asked him to pick Stayner up and bring him home. 15:21 GMT 12 Jan 2021 Once found, Natascha gave dozens of interviews, released two memoirs, and even had a film based on her ordeal. Willett said Devlin told her he was a bad person and admitted to having both Ben and Shawn. Today, shes 33 and admits to still visiting the house where she was kept prisoner. She was found six years later with the help of a grocery store clerk who called the police for her. Devlin opened the front door to his apartment and allowed the FBI and police to go inside. Following Ownbys abduction, true-crime writer and internet sleuth Michelle McNamara examined the case and discovered a connection between Ownbys kidnapping and Hornbecks disappearance. I was looking at him saying, Youre safe. . 'You get so many of these messages. In the final novel of the series, The Man with the Golden Gun, Ms full identity is revealed as Vice Admiral Sir Miles Messervy KCMG; Messervy had been appointed to head of MI6 after his predecessor had been assassinated at his desk. Willett and Richter joined other FBI agents and local police in going to Devlins apartment in the 400 block of S. Holmes Avenue. 22 years after attempted abduction, victim says he learned it was 'It's very comforting knowing I'm back with my family, but I've missed out on a lot of stuff,' he said. It has touched everyone, what this familys been through, and what Craig did for other families also, said Todd Mahn, the owner of the funeral home. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. My Spidey-senses were up, almost immediately.. He is currently serving 71 life sentences after being convicted of kidnapping and child sexual abuse atWestern Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri. The Hornbecks hope that the photos can be used as evidence to build a case against Devlin, Sherman said. Devlin confessed to both kidnappings. 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