As I figured, Shawn Hornbeck was forced to play a role in the kidnapping of Ben. It was the only thing that made sense, really. Fat-assed Devlin had some toes amputated due to diabetes and couldn't capture kids the way he used to. The tale grows ever Hearstian:
Authorities close to the case tell News 4, that Shawn Hornbeck was forced to help kidnap Ben Ownby.Those authorities say that Shawn Hornbeck, a kidnapping victim himself, was forced to participate in the abduction of 13-year-old Ben Ownby and that a gun and duct tape were involved.
Police say that Michael Devlin grabbed Ben Ownby after the boy got off his school bus on a rural road, but News 4 has learned that Devlin had help.
Law enforcement sources tell News 4 that Hornbeck was forced to help grab Ownby, and even push the boy to the floorboard of the white Nissan truck. We’ve also learned that Ben was held with a gun and duct tape.
Pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Robin Park says that Devlin would have had to desensitize and brainwash Shawn for months to get him to do something so clearly wrong.
Police speculate that in Devlin’s eyes, Shawn, at age 15, was getting too old.
In happier news, the eagle-eyed and truck-loving young Mitchell Hults is getting a brand new Dodge truck for providing the description of the get-away truck that solve the case. A well-deserved reward for an awesome kid.
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After reading this last night I did some checking and this story has not been repeated on any other St. Louis news outlet which is unusual given how this story has dominated the airwaves around here for two weeks.
Posted by: diane at January 24, 2007 11:04 AMThat's because it's a pretty irresponsible story, I'm guessing. St. Louis Today has picked it up now though, as well as KMOX radio.
The scenario itself isn't terribly surprising considering he had four years for work on a kid. I'm on other boards with this, and a lot of people, myself included, had been waiting for the other shoe to drop.
This is so heartbreaking. As I said on another thread, I had a 15 year old son who would have been 18 this week. Seeing 15 yr old Shawn Hornbeck on TV brought me to tears and made me want to hug & protect him and little Ben, too.
I wish there was a 1-strike and you're out law for anyone who harms a child.