Desperate for help, they appeared on an episode of The Montel Williams Show, where the self-proclaimed medium Sylvia Browne told the couple falsely that their son was dead. 'This is the best day of our lives. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. He bound Shawn Hornbeck, tied him to a futon or a couch inside the apartment and duct taped his mouth closed, assistant prosecutor Rob Livergood told the court. 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. , updated 10 years after the 'Missouri Miracle': Shawn Hornbeck speaks out about his ordeal. Once Willett got in line for lunch at the pizzeria, Devlins behavior immediately raised her concerns, she told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in a Wednesday interview. Abducted at the age of 10 in Austria, Natascha was kept in a secret cellar for eight years before she escaped in 2006. Palmer has gone so far as to write out his story and sign a sworn affidavit that his claims are accurate. 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! That fall Devlin pleaded guilty to multiple counts of kidnapping and sexual assault and was sentenced to 74 life . Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? He spoke to reporters in 2013 following the dramatic discovery of three trapped women in Cleveland. They spent every penny they had to find Shawn, and made multiple media appearances to raise awareness. The Twisted Saga Of Michael Peterson, Kathleen Peterson, And The Real Story Behind 'The Staircase', Meet Mehmed II, The Ottoman Ruler Who Conquered Constantinople And The Last Vestige Of The Roman Empire, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. California. On October 6, 2002, Shawn Hornbeck left home on his bicycle in the rural area of Richwoods, Missouri. 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. It has been like a dream, and we are afraid that we are going to wake up.'. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved Once found, Natascha gave dozens of interviews, released two memoirs, and even had a film based on her ordeal. Ill. coroner explains how wife didnt notice body, Check out these new must-see Missouri attractions, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Both boys allegedly had been kidnapped by Devlin . Speaking at the time, Craig said: 'It is the phone call I will remember most for the rest of my life. 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. Devlin confessed to both kidnappings. Willett said Devlin broke after she told him that tire tracks could be crucial evidence in Ownbys disappearance. Her ordeal was later turned into a Lifetime film in 2018 called Girl in the Bunker. I dont remember his exact words, but he realized the time had come, Willett said. When his 11-year-old son was kidnapped in October 2002, Craig became very dedicated in finding his boy. 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. On October 6, 2002, Shawn Hornbeck was abducted while riding his bike in Richwoods, Missouri. Most recently, Smart spoke out after Gabby Petitos missing person case took the nation by storm. 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 . The pair talked for hours. Retired Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke was heavily involved in the search for Ownby and subsequent investigation of Devlin since Ownby was kidnapped in Beaufort. Tortured and threatened with death, Hornbeck had allowed Devlin to present him as his son. Police went on a search for Hornbeck, but were unable to discover the boys whereabouts. Craig sadly passed away in 2019 from bladder cancer aged 57, with Pam saying she was 'so grateful he got to spend more time with Shawn'. If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, call theNational Sexual Assault Hotlineat 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Devlin eventually allowed Shawn to go out with friends, get a cellphone and go on dates, but he didn't go to school. It was the case of Steven Stayner, who escaped from his abductor after the man took another child. Now 30, although Elizabeth has spoken out publicly several times about her ordeal, she keeps a low profile. Among them, kidnapping then 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck at gunpoint, then submitting him to years of sexual abuse. He was 57. Market data provided by Factset. They had been kidnapped by Michael J. Devlin. She linked the two abductions before the authorities did and even used online maps to guess as to where they were being held. Its a good feeling knowing somebody that would do good for anybody, said Hattie Wall. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Following Ownbys abduction, true-crime writer and internet sleuth Michelle McNamara examined the case and discovered a connection between Ownbys kidnapping and Hornbecks disappearance. Shawn Hornbeck hugs his family after being rescued from the home of Michael Devlin. What is Shawn Hornbeck doing today? He was told to go in first, so as to not raise any alarm with the boys. But despite his ordeal, Hornbeck remains optimistic about his future. When investigators confronted Devlin, he finally confessed to Ben's kidnapping - and stunned the detectives when he said he also had Shawn. "We're not just looking at the person in the picture, but obviously you look at everything in the background or the quality of the film or of the digital picture. After years of unimaginable dread, his parents were finally able to welcome their son home after Devlin was caught kidnapping another boy-13-year-old Ben Ownby. Both boys were discovered inside Devlin's apartment shortly thereafter. 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. Once it started to rain, they asked him if he wanted to sit in their car for shelter. Jessica O'Connor is a public historian focusing on Deep South Black History with degrees from Winston-Salem State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It's one of the most perplexing questions to emerge from the tale of the two missing Missouri boys who were found last Friday: why didn't Shawn Hornbeck, 15, the older of the two, simply flee?. Shawn Hornbeck, his mother Pam Akers, left, and step-father Craig Akers, greet friends as they walk into the press conference Saturday, January 13, 2007 at Richwoods School. He was 57. Akers served in the United States Air Force and was a member of Patriot Guard. 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. Devlin confessed to both kidnappings. And he said, Ill never forget this, he said, Nah, boy just get in the truck. And thats when I bolted and I ran, said Palmer. It was a bittersweet Christmas for Craig and Pam Akers and their 16-year-old son, Shawn Hornbeck. Shawn Hornbeck married and became a father. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. I remember yelling out, I was scared of waking up my dad, Thats, thats him, Thats the same guy from Robinson.'. Shawn is grown up. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. ", In a 2013 interview, Shawn, then 21, said, "You cant give up. On Monday night, friends and family arrive at the Mahn Funeral Home in DeSoto for the visitation of Craig Akers. They had been kidnapped by Michael J. Devlin . But a chance encounter, the dedication of the boys parents, and the work of a now-famous true crime writer would lead to a remarkable rescue that became known as the Missouri Miracle.. Its their story to tell.. We sat and spoke for quite a while, Willett told the paper. Im proud of [the scars], she told Ladies Home Journal in 2002. Both he and Ben Ownby still live in the St. Louis area. Hornbeck, of Richwoods, Mo., had disappeared on Oct. 6, 2002, while riding his bike to a friend's home. The shocking photos appear to show Hornbeck, now 15, inside or near the apartment of Michael Devlin, the 41-year-old man charged with kidnapping him and 13-year-old Ben Ownby. Kirkwood is about an hour drive from both Richwoods and Beaufort. ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOV) A Canadian man learned the man who tried to abduct him years ago, was Michael Devlin. It was strange. Hornbecks life suffered a severe schism when he was allegedly kidnapped at the age of 11. Finding out, what Palmer is convinced is, the identity of the man who tried to abduct him, has taken an emotional toll. DE SOTO, Mo. He is currently serving 71 life sentences after being convicted of kidnapping and child sexual abuse atWestern Missouri Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri. The guy tried to entice me to his vehicle. It is hard to even come up with words to express the feeling. All rights reserved. Authorities are investigating pictures of Shawn Hornbeck that were apparently taken during the four years the Missouri teen was missing. For the four years that followed, Shawn believed that his family would be harmed if he tried to run. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A Missouri man who became part of an international story is being remembered for his selflessness. The man who kidnapped Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby was identified as Michael J. Devlin, a pizza-restaurant manager. Police called his parents, who had never given up hope, and gave them the miraculous news that after four years, their son had been found. How to get started raising backyard, Windshield covers and other handy gear you need for, 18 trendy cowboy boots to wear this winter, 18 books youll want to read on Dr. Seuss Day, STL Co. stakeholders look for juvenile crime solutions, STL County school district still recovering from, Block party kicks off history making weekend for, Woman shot in Schnucks parking lot in St. Peters, Mo lawmakers back ban on Chinese ownership of land, Lawsuit: Muslims praying at Missouri prison pepper-sprayed, Local organization host fundraiser for Janae Edmondson, Heavy rain, wind slam St. Louis region on Friday, Man shot and killed on his front porch in Illinois, New contract, pay raises expected soon for STL police, Warren County man charged in counterfeit money scheme, TSA at Lambert warns travelers about flights ahead. He will be missed, said Dawn Robertson, a family friend. Even now theyre strong together, said Jason Huncovsky, Akers son-in-law. Are Janelle, Christine and Meri Suing Kody Over Money From Coyote Pass? Ownby had been missing for four days when police entered a small apartment in Kirkwood, Missouri, to find both boys. 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. Al Nothum of the Missouri Highway Patrol said the first thing police want to know is who took the photos. Sgt. The following day, the FBI followed a tip on a white pick-up truck that brought them to a pizzeria in Kirkwood. Willett retired from the FBI in 2010. Market data provided by Factset. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Only 9 years old at the time, the older brother, along with his parents, became a prime suspect in the death of his sister, a crime that today is still unsolved. Visit FOXNews.com's Crime Center for complete coverage. He sat with Willett in the back seat, she told the Post-Dispatch. I just wanted to walk away and the guy got upset, I dont know, irritated. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Thats when he said he came across a story on Shawn Hornbeck and he says he saw a photo of Michael Devlin. But that wasnt his only crime. 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. Is dumpster diving legal in Missouri and Illinois? He never arrived. The truck belonged to store manager Michael Devlin, who eventually agreed to a search by agents Lynn Willett and Tina Richter. The disappearance and reunion with Shawn made international headlines. Devlin pleaded guilty to all the charges and received 74 life sentences and an additional term of 2,020 years. 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. On a daily basis you get so many weird, out there message.'. 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. 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. Devlin went to Beaufort, Missouri, where he kidnapped Ben Ownby from his bus stop. "It's disturbing, but it's not unexpected that there are going to be things revealed from the course of Shawn's captivity that are going to be upsetting to the family," Hornbeck family lawyer Scott Sherman said. 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. One of the most disturbing of the more than a dozen images obtained by KTVI appears to show Hornbeck with his face shrouded in a red bandana pointing a gun at the camera. He even reportedly attended a local school dance in December with a girl students described as his "girlfriend.".