Mitchell Hults of Franklin County saw the truck near the scene of the crime, telling investigators. Retelling of the case of Shawn Hornbeck, who as an 11 year old, was kidnapped, and miraculously survived several years of abuse. KIRKWOOD - Fourteen years ago today in a suburb of St. Louis called Kirkwood, Missouri, the term Missouri Miracle came about. Driving his pickup, he knocked Hornbeck off his bike and kidnapped him. 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. 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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. She linked the two abductions before the authorities did and even used online maps to guess as to where they were being held. The Oct. 6, 2002 kidnapping of Richwoods 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck while riding his bike to a friend's house, . Hornbeck was eleven years old on October 6, 2002, when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. Her ordeal was later turned into a Lifetime film in 2018 called Girl in the Bunker. A trained staff member will provide confidential, judgment-free support as well as local resources to assist in healing, recovering and more. She admitted to still getting scared when walking the streets at night. He also pleaded guilty to all the charges against him. Devlin will spend the rest of his life in prison, but not until one last court appearance today. 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. 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. VICTIM'S FATHER SERVED TIME AS A PERV - New York Post How many years was Shawn Hornbeck missing? Since then, Elizabeth, now 34, has been a vocal advocate for child safety rights. . Shawn later reported that Devlin physically abused him and threatened to kill him if he tried to call for help or escape. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Though Ben was two years older than Shawn, he looked young for his age, and both. Shawn told no one about his situation, and nobody in Kirkwood suspected that he was the missing boy from Richmond - 50 miles away. They had been kidnapped by Michael J. Devlin. On October 6, 2002, Shawn Hornbeck was abducted while riding his bike in Richwoods, Missouri. Required fields are marked *. Since her ordeal made headlines in 2009, Jaycee, now 41, has published two memoirs and continues to speak publicly about her experience. FILE Shawn Hornbeck and his parents, Pam and Craig Akers, in 2013. In 2014, it appears Hornbeck tweeted about Willett by name, writing, Thank you to Lynn Willet for giving me back freedom., She later replied, on the 2015 anniversary of his freedom, Today will always have great meaning for me and my team. I remember yelling out, I was scared of waking up my dad, Thats, thats him, Thats the same guy from Robinson.'. Shawn, who was missing since Oct. 2002, was. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. 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In a split second, Devlin kidnapped Shawn, telling the boy that he, was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Five years later, Devlin kidnapped 13-year-old Ben Ownby in the same truck. In 2011, she described her kidnapper as a cool mom.. A child abductee's journey back | The Seattle Times As he peddled through the small-town streets he was bumped by a white truck. She was 46. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 15. An 11-year-old went missing in rural Missouri while riding his bike in 2002. Both boys allegedly had been kidnapped by Devlin . Shawn had taken this path many times before but this time, Shawn passed by Mike Devlin who bumped him with his truck. Devlin told FBI agents the reason he began looking for another boy was that Shawn was getting too old. Click here to watch the original report from KTVI. Shawn Hornbeck was missing for over four years before being discovered on January 12, 2007, along with another teenage boy. Shawn Hornbeck (center) talks with the media about missing women found in Cleveland during interviews in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. The late Walter. Im a bad person, she said he confessed to her. In 1996, Burkes sister, JonBenet Ramsey, was murdered in their Colorado home. Who was Kenneth Parnell's accomplice? I never forgot his face, he said. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. He was 57. He will be missed," said Dawn . 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. At 14, Elizabeth was kidnapped on her way home from school. Copyright 2023 RiverBender.com.com All rights reserved. Authorities are investigating pictures of Shawn Hornbeck that were apparently taken during the four years the Missouri teen was missing. Today, Jessica is now 35 years old and lives in Texas with her husband and two children. The driver, Mike Devlin rushed to Shawn and appeared to be concerned for his safety. LOUIS - Six months ago, Shawn Hornbeck disappeared again. Did Patty Hearst have Stockholm syndrome? After a dozen days later, Patty was spotted wielding an assault weapon on a bank surveillance camera during an SLA bank robbery. He spoke to reporters in 2013 following the dramatic discovery. He never arrived. When Shawn came up missing he was 11 years old and. He admitted to abducting Ownby. 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. The truck belonged to store manager Michael Devlin, who eventually agreed to a search by agents Lynn Willett and Tina Richter. That evening, then-Fraklin County. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. 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. Another child, 13, went missing five years later. Devlin later pleaded guilty to dozens of counts in both boys disappearances. 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. 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. Stepfather of Shawn Hornbeck, boy found 4 years after abduction, dies California. Shawn Hornbeck hugs his family after being rescued from the home of Michael Devlin. Market data provided by Factset. They spent every penny they had to find Shawn, and made multiple media appearances to raise awareness. A man behind the wheel of a white pickup truck knocked young Shawn off his lime-green bike. He and Ben Ownby, another kidnapped boy, were found in the suburban St. Louis apartment of. It was a bittersweet Christmas for Craig and Pam Akers and their 16-year-old son, Shawn Hornbeck. Visit FOXNews.com's Crime Center for complete coverage. Is dumpster diving legal in Missouri and Illinois? Willett retired from the FBI in 2010. After 13 hours, and with the help of their bus driver, they managed to break free and were rescued. 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. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Teenage kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart has given birth to her third child. McNamara, who also led the investigation into the Golden State Killer, found many connections between the two boys. The man who kidnapped Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby was identified as Michael J. Devlin, a pizza-restaurant manager. He is serving 74 life sentences. 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. 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. 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. On Monday night, friends and family arrive at the Mahn Funeral Home in DeSoto for the visitation of Craig Akers. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. Authorities say Devlins confession that January day ended years of abuse, threats and manipulation for Hornbeck, whom Devlin abducted in October 2002. He was 11 years old. He runs right into me., I put my hands on his shoulders, she said. 15 years since the 'Missouri Miracle': How two kidnapped boys were Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. Hornbeck and Ownby were discovered after police noticed Devlins white pickup truck in the apartment complex parking lot. His widow, Pam, and son Shawn apparently share a special bond that is helping them during this time of loss. Scroll through the gallery below to see before-and-after photos of famous kids from criminal cases. "Craig was a dedicated family man. 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. Today, Devlin continues serving three life sentences at Crossroads. Crack the case in FOXNews.com's Crime Center. 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. 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. So, today, at the age of 59, Cary Stayner is incarcerated at the San Quentin State Prison. Im an important cog in it, but its a personal thing for each boy and their family. Danielle, whos now a teenager, still suffers from developmental issues, but it was last reported that she was enjoying high school. One of Bens friends, Mitchell Hults heard Bens cries and reported the truck to the police. 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. Hornbeck was reported missing by his family on Oct. 5, 2002, after he didn't return home from school in Richwoods, Mo. He glanced up once and then he didnt look at all, she said. That night, Franklin County Sheriff Glen Toelke announced that both boys were found and alive. Kidnapped boy recounts 4 years of captivity - NBC News In Touch Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services. 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. Two federal agentsLynn Willett and Tina Richterasked permission to search the truck, which Devlin allowed. Are Janelle, Christine and Meri Suing Kody Over Money From Coyote Pass? Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | KMIZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News 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. That inmate, identified as Troy Fenton, wrote a letter to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and said he attacked Devlin because of the heinous nature of Devlins crimes. On December 4, 1972, Stayner, age 7, was abducted in Merced, California by child molester Kenneth Parnell. 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.. That fall Devlin pleaded guilty to multiple counts of kidnapping and sexual assault and was sentenced to 74 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. 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. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. Kirkwood and Glendale police spoke with Shawn Devlin on more than one occasion in the years prior to Michael Devlins arrest. Severe Weather . 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. She still has a scar on her forehead from the incident. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Hornbeck, now. When Craig Akers son, Shawn Hornbeck, went missing, Akers also helped other parents find children who had disappeared. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. What Shawn Went Through - Newsweek 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. 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. Among them, kidnapping then 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck at gunpoint, then submitting him to years of sexual abuse. The guy tried to entice me to his vehicle. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. Legal Statement. 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