Ownby found alive -- along with missing Hornbeck boy

[Terri]

St. Louis Dispatch

Ben Ownby, the 13-year-old Franklin County boy missing since Monday, has been found alive in Kirkwood -- as well as Shawn Hornbeck, a boy from Washington County who has been missing since 2002.

Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke said officers located both boys today in an apartment in Kirkwood. He said the case broke when two Kirkwood police officers went to serve a warrant last night and noticed the white pickup truck that had been the object of an intense search in the Ownby case. Officers went to the apartment today and found both boys inside.

Hornbeck identified himself as the boy who has been missing since October 2002. Both boys appeared to be in good health, Toelke said.

More (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/missouristatenews/story/EED72841D131FE0A8625 7261001214F9?OpenDoc ument)

[RealDeal]

How fantastic!!!

I will be praying for these boys and their families to come through this as unscathed as possible.

I think the offender should be put to death. No exaggeration, not kidding. Despicable excuse for human, as far as I am concerned.

[CSchultz]

That is wonderful news!

I'm so happy for them and for their families.

I just can't imagine what they have all been through.

May God bring them peace... :yes:



And may Justice be swift and Just. :mad:

[Cheesecake]

Absolutely the best news!

Praise God!

I cannot put in print, what I would like re: Justice.

With the history of late, re: Child Molestors and Kidnappers, I'm afraid some liberal judge, will think the ''perp'' is not getting his just civil rights.

Can you imagine those reunions tonight?
Oh my....

Just when you start to question...ooops, your prayers are answered :D:D:D:D:D

[Terri]

Actually, I can't imagine how this will be for the boy who has been missing so long.

The other one is probably traumatized too but it didn't last so long.

4 years. 15 years old is a lifetime away from 11 years old.

I hope they can all overcome what has happened in those years.

[RealDeal]

Actually, I can't imagine how this will be for the boy who has been missing so long.


Me neither, there are many levels of psychological effects here... one being "where are my parents and why aren't they looking for me" that the perps usually use against their victims.

Sad sad sad.... so sad it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

Even the neighbors who said they thought he was just the guy's son... feeling some guilt? Not that they should, but I prolly would.

Why our prayers are so important.

[papajaxxx]

Great News!

My first thoughts are: I am so happy for the boys and their family.

My second thoughts: I would like to put this guy to death immediately. Unfortunately, too many other have more mercy than I do.

[Terri]

Apparently this creep had pedophile convictions in Texas too and against both male and female teens.

Maybe they will solve a string of cases now.

[KathrynSmith]

This is truly wonderful news. I have friends I visit in Kirkwood, Missouri and wonder just how close this creep lived to them and their children.

I too cannot imagine what has happen to the Horbeck child all these years. The thoughts rushing through my head are so awful that I must push them area before I get sick. I will pray for both boys for sometime.

I want an immediate speedy trial, followed by a quick execution too. 90% of first time pedofiles repeat their crimes. This man has already proved he is not reformable.

[Terri]

MICHAEL DEVLIN: Suspect is called 'kind of a plain guy' (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/0E83AD48E8060BAF8625 72620021671A?OpenDoc ument)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

'There was no inkling that something like this would ever be linked with him,' a funeral chapel co-worker says.

He was a private man who kept to himself. He paid the rent on time. He stayed out of trouble. He won his employer's respect, even getting a referral for a second job.

Michael J. Devlin, 41, was never a suspect in the disappearance of Shawn Hornbeck four years ago, even though the boy lived in his Kirkwood apartment in full view of neighbors.

More (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/stlouiscitycounty/story/0E83AD48E8060BAF8625 72620021671A?OpenDoc ument)

Maybe the press was wrong about the convicted pedophile from Utah and Texas.

[RW]

This reminds me of a case from about 20 years ago...a little boy was kidnapped by a monster, was held captive for 10 years. Then the monster brought home another little boy. The first was nearly 20, and decided the little boy wasn't going to go thru the hell he did. He took the kid, and they hitch hiked back to the little boy's home. The first couldn't handle it all and he finally killed himself in a drunken driving accident. There was a made for tv movie about it, "my name is..." Anyone remember that?

I think this sort of thing happens a lot more frequently than we may know.

What can keep a child with the monster for years is called, "The Stockholm Syndrome," where the victim identifies with and depends on the captor.

Monsters like this should receive the death penalty. FIRST time.

[CSchultz]

Originally published Oct. 8, 2006:
First, she prayed. Thank you, Lord, for giving this mom the miracle she needed. Then, she talked directly to Shawn Hornbeck, her son: "We will find you one day."

And, like so many times before, she wept.



This part of this story really touches me.
She never gave up hope.
It's like Psalm 22.
She never lost her faith.

God bless these people.

[Terri]

RW, I remember the boy you're talking about. His name was Steven Stayner (http://www.geocities.com/traciy_curry/steven_stayner.html) .
He died at age 21 in a motorcycle accident.

His abductor spent 5 years in prison for kidnapping two boys and keeping one of them for 7 years. That's what California considered justice to be at that time.

Pedophiles never change and here's proof of it from 2004.

'Steven' kidnapper convicted (http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/02/09/stayner.kidnapper.ap /)

OAKLAND, California (AP) -- A man infamous for kidnapping a young boy 30 years ago was convicted Monday of trying to buy a child last year in what a prosecutor described as the would-be "last hurrah" of a long criminal career.

Kenneth Parnell was convicted of trying to persuade a woman to procure him a young boy for $500. Now 72 and in a wheelchair, Parnell was convicted in 1980 of abducting 7-year-old Steven Stayner, changing the boy's name and keeping him for seven years. Stayner's story was later told in a book and TV movie, "I Know My First Name is Steven."


I agree with everyone that said death is the proper way to handle these predators.