Adding to his isolation, he was apparently never re-enrolled in school and evidently made few friends in Devlins apartment complex. Maybe its part of my mission, to reach out and offer hope., Hornbeck also showed off two tattoos he had, one on each forearm: faith and respect.. Just one day before the miraculous discovery, McNamara theorized Ownby was targeted because of his youthful appearance. In 1996, Burkes sister, JonBenet Ramsey, was murdered in their Colorado home. Meanwhile, Shawn Hornbeck was allowed to see friends and even use a cellphone after Devlin believed that the boy wouldnt try to run or reach the authorities. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and that you have read our Privacy Policy. 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. He and Ben Ownby, another kidnapped boy, were found in the suburban St. Louis apartment of. 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. 10 years after the 'Missouri Miracle': Shawn Hornbeck speaks Loaded Progress 0:00 / 2:40 Video Quality 576p 540p 360p 270p Video: Ten years after the 'Missouri Miracle', ex-FBI agent recalls. Devlin confessed to both kidnappings. All rights reserved. We sat and spoke for quite a while, Willett told the paper. KIRKWOOD - Fourteen years ago today in a suburb of St. Louis called Kirkwood, Missouri, the term Missouri Miracle came about. The agents asked for Devlins permission to search his truck, which he gave. Throughout her captivity, Alicia was chained by the neck, sexually assaulted, and her torture was live-streamed. Shawn was 11 when he was kidnapped by Michael Devlin in 2002 near his home in Washington County, Mo. , updated Willett spoke at length with Devlin while they sat in the backseat of an FBI vehicle. Shawn Hornbeck In 2002, Shawn was abducted while riding his bike with a friend and was found five years later. Speaking out for the first time, Shawn Hornbeck says his four years of being held captive . An 11-year-old went missing in rural Missouri while riding his bike in 2002. 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When Shawn came up missing he was 11 years old and was riding his bike alone on October 6, 2002, when Michael Devlin was patrolling quiet roads for months searching for a young victim. They had been kidnapped by Michael J. Devlin . He was 57. Devlin will spend the rest of his life in prison, but not until one last court appearance today. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 15. Now 30, although Elizabeth has spoken out publicly several times about her ordeal, she keeps a low profile. Later, Devlin admitted he kidnapped Ben because Shawn was getting too old for his liking, unwittingly confirming McNamaras theory. 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. 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. He was told to go in first, so as to not raise any alarm with the boys. After hearing the news of Ownbys abduction, true crime investigator and late wife of comedian Patton Oswalt, Michelle McNamara began investigating the boys abduction. On a daily basis you get so many weird, out there message.'. In May of that year, the Akers family determined they didnt have the time and resources necessary to commit to the foundation and rescue team. How old is Shawn Hornbeck today? On Jan. 8, 2007, Devlin abducted Ben Ownby at a bus stop in Beaufort, Missouri. Tortured and threatened with death, Hornbeck had allowed Devlin to present him as his son. It was 1980. What They've Said, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). Mitchell Hults of Franklin County saw the truck near the scene of the crime, telling investigators. When they arrived, Shawn and Ben were inside playing video games. Our only wish would have been to help you sooner. Speaking last week, ahead of the 10th anniversary of the boys discovery, she told the Post-Dispatch, I want the story to be theirs to tell. Shes now a spokesperson for the anti-pornography group, Fight the New Drug. He said, I have Shawn [Hornbeck, missing since 2002]. I said, Take us to him. , Willett told the Post-Dispatch that Devlin took the agents to his ground-floor apartment nearby. Hornbeck was eleven years old on October 6, 2002, when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. 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. Writer Michelle McNamara died in her sleep on April 21, 2016. Shawn, who was missing since Oct. 2002, was. or redistributed. Hornbeck and Ownby were discovered after police noticed Devlins white pickup truck in the apartment complex parking lot. When Shawn came up missing he was 11 years old and. Then read more about Dennis Martin, the six-year-old boy who disappeared in the Great Smokey Mountains. 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. Akers served in the United States Air Force and was a member of Patriot Guard. They also started the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation to help other families find their missing and abducted children. 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. She was 46. Police went on a search for Hornbeck, but were unable to discover the boys whereabouts. Shawn Hornbeck era un nio de 11 aos que fue secuestrado el 6 de octubre de 2002 mientras montaba en bicicleta en un pequeo pueblo rural del condado de Washington llamado Richwoods, en el estado de Missouri, Estados Unidos, a unas 50 millas de la segunda ciudad ms grande del estado, St. Louis. News 4 contacted the FBI but a spokesperson said they could neither confirm nor deny a complaint had been filed and an investigation was underway. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation ceased operations in 2013. 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. The Oct. 6, 2002 kidnapping of Richwoods 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck while riding his bike to a friend's house, . Authorities said they are trying to authenticate the images, but are working under the assumption that the photos are genuine, FOX News affiliate KTVI in St. Louis reported. Anytime a child was missing he was the first onesick as a dogget up and try to help, said friend Angela Forshee. He said a police report was filed at the time, but years passed and it became a distant memory. The man who kidnapped Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby was identified as Michael J. Devlin, a pizza-restaurant manager. California. He said he plans to continue to seek justice and peace of mind. We were sitting in the back seat, he was turned to look at me and I was turned to look at him. Im proud of [the scars], she told Ladies Home Journal in 2002. He was transferred to Western Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri. 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. ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOV) A Canadian man learned the man who tried to abduct him years ago, was Michael Devlin. Devlin later pleaded guilty to dozens of counts in both boys disappearances. My Spidey-senses were up, almost immediately.. 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. 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. Shawn always took the same route and his parents trusted him to ride alone. Theres hardly any place he can go that somebody doesnt recognize him and want to give him a hug, his mom said. Hes into video production and has shown me some of his work.. That October, Devlin pleaded guilty to all the charges and received 74 life sentences and an additional term of 2,020 years. Ownby was taken for five days in January 2007 and the search for him inadvertently solved both cases. Their discovery became known as the Missouri Miracle.. He sat with Willett in the back seat, she told the Post-Dispatch. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, It was a bittersweet Christmas for Craig and Pam Akers and their 16-year-old son, Shawn Hornbeck. 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 . 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. A Missouri man who became part of an international story is being remembered for his selflessness. When Craig Akers son, Shawn Hornbeck, went missing, Akers also helped other parents find children who had disappeared. Shes now 25 years old, has two sons and lives in Idaho. The discovery that Hornbeck was still alive after his abduction near Richwoods in 2003, was dubbed, The Missouri Miracle. In 2012, a few of the victims spoke out for the first time about their ordeal, a few admitting that they still suffer from psychological trauma from the experience. Devlin told FBI agents the reason he began looking for another boy was that Shawn was getting too old. If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, call theNational Sexual Assault Hotlineat 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). On January 12, 2007, police and FBI agents entered the apartment and located Ben Ownby and a second boy sitting on a sofa quietly. Both he and Ben Ownby still live in the St. Louis area. When Devlin told Shawn Hornbeck he was going to kidnap a new boy, Shawn fought the man who had tortured, isolated and manipulated him since 2002. Visit FOXNews.com's Crime Center for complete coverage. The man who kidnapped Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby was identified as Michael J. Devlin, a pizza-restaurant manager. He runs right into me., I put my hands on his shoulders, she said. He even reportedly attended a local school dance in December with a girl students described as his "girlfriend.". In 1976, 26 children and their bus driver were kidnapped and buried alive in an underground van that survivors would later describe as a "coffin." Shawn would even reach out to his parents on a website they set up to receive tips on his disappearance. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. But despite his ordeal, Hornbeck remains optimistic about his future. Click here to watch the original report from KTVI. Shawn would go on to recount his experience on television where he detailed his abuse, the lies he was forced to tell, and his years in the apartment. That wouldnt be the last time Browne fabricated details about someones disappearance. They spent every penny they had to find Shawn, and made multiple media appearances to raise awareness. Today, shes 33 and admits to still visiting the house where she was kept prisoner. In an interview on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Hornbeck said he was too "terrified" to try to escape from Devlin's clutches. FILE Shawn Hornbeck and his parents, Pam and Craig Akers, in 2013. 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. 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. 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. Shawn is grown up. 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. He glanced up once and then he didnt look at all, she said. A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering and more. Is Every Duggar Ridiculously Messy? Steven had a difficult life after his escape and died at age 24 in a . 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. Upon learning the 22-year-old blogger died by strangulation three to four weeks before her body was found in Grand Teton National Park, Smart shared her thoughts onRed Table Talk. Devlin confessed to both kidnappings. In 2011, she described her kidnapper as a cool mom.. In 2002, Shawn was abducted while riding his bike with a friend and was found five years later. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. DE SOTO, Mo. Your email address will not be published. But like most kidnapped kids who are later found, she still struggles with the aftermath. Shawn Hornbeck was an 11 year old boy who was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friend's house near Richwoods, Missouri. 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. Share this story with your friends and family. He is serving 74 life sentences. 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. Is dumpster diving legal in Missouri and Illinois? Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. I dont know what to say to that, because I know thats not what happened, he said. Al Nothum of the Missouri Highway Patrol said the first thing police want to know is who took the photos. It was the case of Steven Stayner, who escaped from his abductor after the man took another child. Due to lack of funds and time, The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation was closed, but members helped found the Missouri Valley Search and Rescue Team to continue the work. Inside, Willett said, Hornbeck and Ownby were playing video games., Ben just shot up and was in that fight-or-flight [mode], Willett said. ", In a 2013 interview, Shawn, then 21, said, "You cant give up. 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! 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 was with him in the pickup. Shawn Hornbeck (center) talks with the media about missing women found in Cleveland during interviews in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. Did Elizabeth Smart have a baby while kidnapped? Market data provided by Factset. Crack the case in FOXNews.com's Crime Center. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KMIZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News Is dumpster diving legal in Missouri and Illinois? Due to lack of funds and time, The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation was closed, but members helped found the Missouri Valley Search and Rescue Team to continue the work. 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..