Authorities are investigating pictures of Shawn Hornbeck that were apparently taken during the four years the Missouri teen was missing. Eventually, Willett was able to get a confession from Devlin, and the FBI raided his apartment in search of the boys. Craig was a dedicated family man. I have them because I survived.. Email In Touch at contact@intouchweekly.com. But that wasnt his only crime. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. Following Ownbys abduction, true-crime writer and internet sleuth Michelle McNamara examined the case and discovered a connection between Ownbys kidnapping and Hornbecks disappearance. He glanced up once and then he didnt look at all, she said. Copyright 2023 RiverBender.com.com All rights reserved. What is Shawn Hornbeck doing today? On Monday night, friends and family arrive at the Mahn Funeral Home in DeSoto for the visitation of Craig Akers. The second boy was Shawn Hornbeck, who had disappeared more than four years earlier from his own rural neighborhood of Washington County. Shawn Hornbeck married and became a father. Shawn Hornbeck (center) talks with the media about missing women found in Cleveland during interviews in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. (KFVS) Eleven-year-old Shawn Hornbeck went missing in 2002. 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. I dont remember his exact words, but he realized the time had come, Willett said. Shawn Hornbeck was missing for over four years before being discovered on January 12, 2007, along with another teenage boy. He will be missed," said Dawn . 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. Since then, Shasta has struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, but in a 2015 interview, said she was getting her life back on track and was on her way to being a mother. One year after Hornbecks release, his parents told PEOPLE he was making progress. That October, Devlin pleaded guilty to all the charges and received 74 life sentences and an additional term of 2,020 years. Willett said Devlin told her he was a bad person and admitted to having both Ben and Shawn. At 14, Elizabeth was kidnapped on her way home from school. Shawn Hornbeck was an 11 year old boy who was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friend's house near Richwoods, Missouri. 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. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. Today, shes 33 and admits to still visiting the house where she was kept prisoner. Hornbeck was eleven years old on October 6, 2002, when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. KIRKWOOD - Fourteen years ago today in a suburb of St. Louis called Kirkwood, Missouri, the term Missouri Miracle came about. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Shawn was also made to pose as his abductors son. Speaking out for the first time, Shawn Hornbeck says his four years of being held captive . Among them, kidnapping then 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck at gunpoint, then submitting him to years of sexual abuse. 'Octomom' Nadya Suleman Is a Proud Mom of 14: See Her Kids Today! 'It was surprising. 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.. . She was 46. 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. What did you feel doing that? DE SOTO, Mo. 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. The discovery that Hornbeck was still alive after his abduction near Richwoods in 2003, was dubbed, "The Missouri Miracle". In 2011, she described her kidnapper as a cool mom.. Hes into video production and has shown me some of his work.. 'It's very comforting knowing I'm back with my family, but I've missed out on a lot of stuff,' he said. Retelling of the case of Shawn Hornbeck, who as an 11 year old, was kidnapped, and miraculously survived several years of abuse. What nobody knew at the time was that Shawn was still alive and had been taken to an apartment in Kirkwood, where hed live with his kidnapper for the next four years. FILE Shawn Hornbeck and his parents, Pam and Craig Akers, in 2013. It was 1980. Hornbecks life suffered a severe schism when he was allegedly kidnapped at the age of 11. He was transferred to Western Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri. In the interview, he revealed what he really thought about suspicions that he and his parents were involved with his sisters death. Since then, Tanya, now 40, has released a memoir, Memoir of a Milk Carton Kid: The Tanya Nicole Kach Story, and lives in Pennsylvania. He was 57. It has been like a dream, and we are afraid that we are going to wake up.'. 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. Among them, kidnapping then 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck at gunpoint, then submitting him to years of sexual abuse. Crack the case in FOXNews.com's Crime Center. On October 6, 2002, Shawn Hornbeck was abducted while riding his bike in Richwoods, Missouri. California. How old is Shawn Hornbeck today? One of Bens friends, Mitchell Hults heard Bens cries and reported the truck to the police. Both he and Ben Ownby still live in the St. Louis area. She still has a scar on her forehead from the incident. 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. 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'. #subscriptionResponse{color:#000; font-size:14px; font-weight:bold}. On October 6, 2002, Shawn, aged 11, was kidnapped by 41-year-old pizza shop boss Michael Devlin. Today, Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby have found some sense of normalcy, living peacefully with their families in St. Louis. How many years was Shawn Hornbeck missing? 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. 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. Her ordeal was later turned into a Lifetime film in 2018 called Girl in the Bunker. Shawn Hornbeck was an 11 year old boy who was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friend's house near Richwoods, Missouri. He sat with Willett in the back seat, she told the Post-Dispatch. 'You get so many of these messages. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. It's one of the most perplexing questions to emerge from the tale of the two missing Missouri boys who were found last Friday: why didn't Shawn Hornbeck, 15, the older of the two, simply flee?. "Craig was a dedicated family man. Shawn always took the same route and his parents trusted him to ride alone. On a daily basis you get so many weird, out there message.'. By Shawn, who was missing since Oct. 2002, was. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. Since then, Elizabeth, now 34, has been a vocal advocate for child safety rights. In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Both boys were discovered inside Devlin's apartment shortly thereafter. The couple appeared on The Montel Williams Show shortly after Shawns abduction to raise awareness of the case. Ownby had been missing for four days when police entered a small apartment in Kirkwood, Missouri, to find both boys. Devlin confessed to both kidnappings. 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. In 2013, the now 26-year-old gave her first interview since the kidnapping where she said she was attending college and planning to be a veterinarian. After a dozen days later, Patty was spotted wielding an assault weapon on a bank surveillance camera during an SLA bank robbery. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Palmer has gone so far as to write out his story and sign a sworn affidavit that his claims are accurate. That wouldnt be the last time Browne fabricated details about someones disappearance. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Hornbeck was eleven years old on October 6, 2002, when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. Police went on a search for Hornbeck, but were unable to discover the boys whereabouts. He spoke to reporters in 2013 following the dramatic discovery. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. McNamara also correctly theorized that Devlin was drawn to the boys because they looked much younger than their actual ages. Alicias Law directs $5 million of leftover state lottery funds to locate and prosecute people participating in the sexual exploitation of children. Devlin will spend the rest of his life in prison, but not until one last court appearance today. 18:50 GMT 12 Jan 2021. During the conversation, Willett cajoled a confession from Devlin. On Jan. 8, 2007, Ben Ownby was taken while waiting at a bus stop in Beaufort, located in Franklin County. 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. Shawn was found alive and his kidnapper arrested in January 2007. Danielle, whos now a teenager, still suffers from developmental issues, but it was last reported that she was enjoying high school. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 15. But this time, Devlin was seen kidnapping the boy. A man behind the wheel of a white pickup truck knocked young Shawn off his lime-green bike. Chris Jewers For Mailonline, Republican minority leader Kevin McCarthy says he opposes impeachment but tells House caucus Donald Trump DOES bear 'some responsibility' for MAGA mob and floats censure motion, Reprieve for only woman on federal death row after judge grants 11th hour stay of execution for womb raider killer Lisa Montgomery pending a competency hearing, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Beaming Harry and Meghan enjoy date night at private members' club, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KMIZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News Devlin pleaded guilty to all the charges and received 74 life sentences and an additional term of 2,020 years. When Shawn came up missing he was 11 years old and. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. Devlin remains at the state prison in Cameron under protective custody. The driver, Mike Devlin rushed to Shawn and appeared to be concerned for his safety. 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. He and Ben Ownby, another kidnapped boy, were found in the suburban St. Louis apartment of. On October 6, 2002, Shawn Hornbeck left home on his bicycle in the rural area of Richwoods, Missouri. Your email address will not be published. After reading about Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownbys kidnappings, read the story of Lauren Spierer, the college student who disappeared without a trace. ', His father Craig said he could remember the message, telling the host:'I remember reading it, I remember thinking to myself either this is someone with that name or this is someone trying to yank my chain.'. 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. Authorities say Devlins confession that January day ended years of abuse, threats and manipulation for Hornbeck, whom Devlin abducted in October 2002. If it wasn't for Mitchell Hults, a teenage boy who witnessed the kidnapping, the Missouri Miracle probably wouldnt have come true. Their discovery became known as the Missouri Miracle.. , updated Palmer told News 4 that his father married a woman from Robinson,. Kevin Palmer of North Bay, Ontario Canada is hoping the FBI office in St. Louis will launch a new investigation into Devlin that leads to charges for an attempted abduction in December 1998. Devlin pleaded guilty to all the counts against him and was sentenced to 72 years behind bars. Finding out, what Palmer is convinced is, the identity of the man who tried to abduct him, has taken an emotional toll. Inside The Terrifying Kidnapping And Miraculous Rescue Of Shawn Hornbeck. Today, Devlin continues serving three life sentences at Crossroads. The comments below have not been moderated, By We are no longer accepting comments on this article. . When they arrived, Shawn and Ben were inside playing video games. 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. 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. Even now theyre strong together, said Jason Huncovsky, Akers son-in-law. The man who kidnapped Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby was identified as Michael J. Devlin, a pizza-restaurant manager. The late Walter. Shawn Hornbeck was alive and had been living with Devlin as a hostage for over four years. Akers served in the United States Air Force and was a member of Patriot Guard. The driver grabbed Shawn, put him in his truck, and left. Your email address will not be published. Kirkwood is about an hour drive from both Richwoods and Beaufort. Their cases made national news. She admitted to still getting scared when walking the streets at night. After Shawns disappearance, Pam and Craig Akers dedicated every second of their lives to finding their son. Today, Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby have found some sense of normalcy, living peacefully with their families in St. Louis. According to Palmer, while walking back from a video rental store, a man in a pickup pulled up and tried to get Palmer to accept a ride. Listen Now On Jan. 12, 2007, Ben Ownby, 13, and Shawn Hornbeck, 15, were saved from Michael Devlin's apartment in St. Louis County. 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. Shes now a spokesperson for the anti-pornography group, Fight the New Drug. She linked the two abductions before the authorities did and even used online maps to guess as to where they were being held. 10 years after the 'Missouri Miracle': Shawn Hornbeck speaks out about his ordeal. 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. TwitterShawn Hornbeck hugs his family after being rescued from the home of Michael Devlin. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. He is serving 74 life sentences. Authorities are investigating pictures of Shawn Hornbeck that were apparently taken during the four years the Missouri teen was missing. Driving his pickup, he knocked Hornbeck off his bike and kidnapped him. 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. A year after ordeal, kidnapped boy doing well. The agents asked for Devlins permission to search his truck, which he gave. Theyre doing good. After Mitchell Hults report, the FBI received a tip that a truck matching the description of Devlins was parked at a pizza restaurant in Kirkwood. In his first interview, he tells 48 Hours Mystery his four-year ordeal would "send psychiatrists insane". 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. A Missouri man who became part of an international story is being remembered for his selflessness. Meanwhile, for his tip and information, Mitchell Hults received a reward that included a new pickup truck. 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. 1, 'Welcome to Plathville' Kim Plath's DUI Case Closed: Fine, More Details, Sister Wives Kody, Robyn Were With a Mystery Blonde: Identity Revealed, Megan Fox and MGK's Relationship Is 'Toxic': 'There Is Concern for Her', Farrah Abraham Slams Mom-Shamers Over Daughter Sophias Piercings, Jon Gosselin Is 'Open' With Kids Collin, Hannah About Their Dating Lives. About 19 years (January 2003)Shawn Hornbeck Foundation / Age. The second boy was Shawn Hornbeck, who had disappeared more than four years earlier from his own rural neighborhood of Washington County. Daily News & Weather Updates Shawn Hornbeck, his mother Pam Akers, left, and step-father Craig Akers, greet friends as they walk into the press conference Saturday, January 13, 2007 at Richwoods School. 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. The shocking photos appear to show Hornbeck, now 15,. It is hard to even come up with words to express the feeling. Im not gonna lie there were times when it seemed like I was better off dead.. Once it started to rain, they asked him if he wanted to sit in their car for shelter. The discovery that Hornbeck was still alive after his abduction near Richwoods in 2003, was dubbed, The Missouri Miracle. In 1996, Burkes sister, JonBenet Ramsey, was murdered in their Colorado home. Legal Statement. In Beaufort, on January 8, 2007, he kidnapped Ben Ownby from a bus stop, with Shawn in the pick up truck with him. ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) Ten years ago today, the FBI stormed into a small Kirkwood apartment complex and rescued Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby, marking the day many call The Missouri Miracle. In October 2002, the then 11-year-old Hornbeck was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friends home in Washington County. Then read more about Dennis Martin, the six-year-old boy who disappeared in the Great Smokey Mountains. Im proud of [the scars], she told Ladies Home Journal in 2002. Hornbeck, of Richwoods, Mo., had disappeared on Oct. 6, 2002, while riding his bike to a friend's home. Legal Statement. The Most Binge-Worthy True Crime Docs You Have to Watch Now, Why Did the Menendez Brothers Kill Their Parents? A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering and more. Later, Devlin admitted he kidnapped Ben because Shawn was getting too old for his liking, unwittingly confirming McNamaras theory. Since her ordeal made headlines in 2009, Jaycee, now 41, has published two memoirs and continues to speak publicly about her experience. 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. Task force officials say the images are a top priority, but are not sure at this point how important they will be to their ongoing investigation. Its a good feeling knowing somebody that would do good for anybody, said Hattie Wall. From Elizabeth Smart to Jaycee Dugard, these kids from famous crime cases are both horrifying and inspiring. He was 14 years old at the time. They had been kidnapped by Michael J. Devlin. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, call theNational Sexual Assault Hotlineat 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Shawn is grown up. Visit FOXNews.com's Crime Center for complete coverage. The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation ceased operations in 2013. Shawn Hornbeck was missing for over four years before being discovered on January 12, 2007, along with another teenage boy, Ben Ownby. Im an important cog in it, but its a personal thing for each boy and their family. Bens abduction and Hults quick thinking would eventually turn out to be Shawns salvation. When the boys were found Gary Toelke, the Franklin County sheriff at the time made the announcement outside his office at a press conference. Throughout her captivity, Alicia was chained by the neck, sexually assaulted, and her torture was live-streamed.
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