Posted on 01/15/2007 8:27:11 AM PST by Halls
Kidnap victim Shawn Hornbeck was "brainwashed" into staying with his abductor after being told his parents no longer wanted him.
His kidnapper also threatened to shoot the 15-year-old after snatching him off the street.
Friends of the teenager have revealed Michael Devlin, 41, had at least three guns in the apartment where Shawn was held captive.
Tony Douglas, 15, who was Shawn's best friend, said: "We both knew there were guns in the house. Michael told us that he had the guns and were for his protection."
Shawn's stepfather Craig Akers, 45, has revealed his son's life was threatened by Devlin while he lived with him in a ground floor flat in Kirkwood, a suburb of St Louis, Missouri.
(Excerpt) Read more at thisislondon.co.uk ...
Kudos
The kid developed Stockholm syndrome ... where you identify with your kidnapper and become dependent on him. Won't happen to all kids but this presumed boy diddler degenerate could sniff out such vulnerable boys
No need to worry. Oprah is hot on his heels and she'll fix everything. /s
I am also very strong willed, when I was 6 I was ALMOST sexually molested but I beat the guy at his own game and escaped, but I also had a little sister and an older brother who were very gullible. We're all in our 50s now and they can both still be taken by a slick salesman.
Oh, no. Even if they aren't revealing any personal facts about his captivity, ....I'm speechless.
They need to take a vacation from the work (obsession) they've been involved with for the past 4 yrs and just spend time alone.
I don't blame the boy for one second, But I agree, why are the parents on this publicity tour. IT makes no sense.
Well, that's odd because he refused to utter a single word when he got there. Maybe he volunteered to go because he didn't want to be alone with his parents, maybe it was just too awkward. Who knows?
I am a little puzzled about his parents. They showed a film clip from the time that Shawn was first abducted of a nice looking man in a beard, talking about Shawn, was that his real father? It doesn't look anything like the guy with the horrible teeth that was seen at the school.
How about having a hired person to kill the family and him if he tried to escape that is speculation but used previously in kidnap cases
--I Can tell by your comments you were NEVER Raped , I Wish I Could say the same about poor Shawn who was in the 5th grade & only 11 !--
If you were raped and were later in a policeman's car, would you ask to be taken back to the rapist?
That makes me absolutely ill to think people would say that about this kid.
maybe that was just something he told people because he didn't have his mother with him. After all, she was frequently on news and vigils.
By the way, why the nasty personal remark? Why do you feel the need to attack?
"The decision was left up to him"
Someone needs to call these parents, and tell them that they need to protect their son, not turn him into a media sideshow. This kid has been playing a role for 4 years. His parents haven't figured out that what he says he wants to do, may not be in his best interest.
Also Police Confirmed in an article in the st . louis newspaper that Child Porn was found on that piece of crap Devlin's computer
I can answer that,
If you are at the mercy of a monster for a big chunk of your life, you don't think that a policeman can save you from squat.
No one can help you, ever.
Hope is just another 4 letter word.
He will probably be homeschooled for awhile. Kids are mean.
I think the Smarts could be a real resource to these people
Shawn's real father died several years before he was abducted. And both families had the boys at their respective press conferences, and I believe the boys were not allowed to talk as requested by the police; investigation ongoing.
I remember the outcry about the Smart family being so unapproachable and hiding Elizabeth after she was returned. You can't please all of the people all of the time. Either they keep him hidden and people speculate and pester, or you get him out there to get that over with and people speculate and pester.
I really like this step-dad; I find him genuine and he truly seems to love this boy. Shawn has spent more time with his abductor than with his step-father, so there will be readjustment.
What is your reasoning on that
I read that Craig had been around since the boy was baby
Can someone confirm if Devlin posted bail today???
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