When his 11-year-old son was kidnapped in October 2002, Craig became very dedicated in finding his boy. Our only wish would have been to help you sooner. Even now theyre strong together, said Jason Huncovsky, Akers son-in-law. When investigators confronted Devlin, he finally confessed to Ben's kidnapping - and stunned the detectives when he said he also had Shawn. Her ordeal was later turned into a Lifetime film in 2018 called Girl in the Bunker. 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.. So, today, at the age of 59, Cary Stayner is incarcerated at the San Quentin State Prison. What did you feel doing that? While aiding the investigation of finding the Golden State Killer, Michelle McNamara passed away at the age of 46, just a short time before the killer was found. After Mitchell Hults report, the FBI received a tip that a truck matching the description of Devlins was parked at a pizza restaurant in Kirkwood. LOUIS - Six months ago, Shawn Hornbeck disappeared again. Willett said Devlin broke after she told him that tire tracks could be crucial evidence in Ownbys disappearance. Police went on a search for Hornbeck, but were unable to discover the boys whereabouts. He said he plans to continue to seek justice and peace of mind. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Shawn Hornbeck (center) talks with the media about missing women found in Cleveland during interviews in downtown St. Louis on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. She was rescued by her adoptive parents who worked with the troubled girls social interaction issues. You look at a lot of things," Nothum said. 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. 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. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. 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. After reading about Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownbys kidnappings, read the story of Lauren Spierer, the college student who disappeared without a trace. As he peddled through the small-town streets he was bumped by a white truck. During those years of not knowing where Shawn was, Craig reached out to other families. They had been kidnapped by Michael J. Devlin. One year after Hornbecks release, his parents told PEOPLE he was making progress. Shawn Hornbeck was an 11 year old boy who was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friend's house near Richwoods, Missouri. Writer Michelle McNamara died in her sleep on April 21, 2016. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. But like most kidnapped kids who are later found, she still struggles with the aftermath. On this day in 2007, Shawn Hornbeck was finally reunited with his parents after he vanished without trace while riding his bike in Missouri four years earlier. Craig Akers died July 15, 2019, from bladder cancer. Alicias Law directs $5 million of leftover state lottery funds to locate and prosecute people participating in the sexual exploitation of children. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Crystal Britt talked about the emotions of that day as we look back on Shawn and Ben Ownbys remarkable rescue. [He] is doing really well, a retired sheriff who worked on his case told the paper. . Hes into video production and has shown me some of his work.. Following Ownbys abduction, true-crime writer and internet sleuth Michelle McNamara examined the case and discovered a connection between Ownbys kidnapping and Hornbecks disappearance. Among them, kidnapping then 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck at gunpoint, then submitting him to years of sexual abuse. All rights reserved. On Jan. 12, 2007, police serving an unrelated warrant at the apartment complex where Devlin lived in Kirkwood, Mo., spotted a white pick-up truck that matched the description of the one reportedly used in the abduction of Ownby four days earlier in Beaufort, Mo. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. Did Patty Hearst have Stockholm syndrome? 90 Day Fiance's Hamza's Green Card Status 'Battle' Amid Memphis Divorce. 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. The comments below have not been moderated, By Tortured and threatened with death, Hornbeck had allowed Devlin to present him as his son. Mitchell Hults of Franklin County saw the truck near the scene of the crime, telling investigators. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. By He would just sit and look at it and stare at it, and he would just talk about these women, and then when he was done, he would turn and look at me, and he would be like, Now were going to do this,' she said in a video about her convicted abductor, Brian David Mitchell. The guy tried to entice me to his vehicle. That wouldnt be the last time Browne fabricated details about someones disappearance. 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. 'You get so many of these messages. Im an important cog in it, but its a personal thing for each boy and their family. .error{color:#000; font-size:14px; font-weight:bold} All Rights Reserved. It is hard to even come up with words to express the feeling. We located Ben this afternoon in the City of Kirkwood and we also located Shawn Hornbeck, who was at the same residence. The news spread all across the world. Its their story to tell.. He admitted to abducting Ownby. Our only wish would have been to help you sooner.. When the boys were found Gary Toelke, the Franklin County sheriff at the time made the announcement outside his office at a press conference. Devlin pleaded guilty to all the charges and received 74 life sentences and an additional term of 2,020 years. Are Janelle, Christine and Meri Suing Kody Over Money From Coyote Pass? In the same interview, Shawn said he spent his days sleeping and playing video games and was instructed to tell people he was being homeschooled. I never forgot his face, he said. Devlin later pleaded guilty to dozens of counts in both boys disappearances. Willett spoke at length with Devlin while they sat in the backseat of an FBI vehicle. Driving his pickup, he knocked Hornbeck off his bike and kidnapped him. 'It was surprising. She still has a scar on her forehead from the incident. In his first interview, he tells 48 Hours Mystery his four-year ordeal would "send psychiatrists insane". 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. The discovery that Hornbeck was still alive after his abduction near Richwoods in 2003, was dubbed, The Missouri Miracle. On October 6, 2002, Shawn, aged. Hornbeck, now 25, attended private school after his rescue and later got a factory job in Missouri, according to the Post-Dispatch. Today, Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby have found some sense of normalcy, living peacefully with their families in St. Louis. They spent every penny they had to find Shawn, and made multiple media appearances to raise awareness. He spoke to reporters in 2013 following the dramatic discovery of three trapped women in Cleveland. Devlin confessed to both kidnappings. The man who kidnapped Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby was identified as Michael J. Devlin, a pizza-restaurant manager. Shawn Hornbeck era un nio de 11 aos que fue secuestrado el 6 de octubre de 2002 mientras montaba en bicicleta en un pequeo pueblo rural del condado de Washington llamado Richwoods, en el estado de Missouri, Estados Unidos, a unas 50 millas de la segunda ciudad ms grande del estado, St. Louis. Speaking to the host, he said that he had used the internet to ask his parents a heartbreaking question. Hornbeck was eleven years old on October 6, 2002, when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The man who fathered kidnapped teen Shawn Hornbeck was a convicted sex offender who did three years in a Missouri prison on drug and sodomy charges, The Post has learned. 'We knew the world knew the answer to that, we had been saying all along we would never stop looking for our son. But that wasnt his only crime. And Devlin would later admit to prosecutors that Shawn was getting too old for him, and he abducted Ben because he looked younger, which proved McNamaras theory. Shawn, then 15, told his 41-year-old captor that . The Most Binge-Worthy True Crime Docs You Have to Watch Now, Why Did the Menendez Brothers Kill Their Parents? The falsehoods hurt the family, but may have fueled the search to find their son alive. On Monday night, friends and family arrive at the Mahn Funeral Home in DeSoto for the visitation of Craig Akers. Devlin confessed to both kidnappings. Sgt. Devlin opened the front door to his apartment and allowed the FBI and police to go inside. Chris Jewers For Mailonline, Republican minority leader Kevin McCarthy says he opposes impeachment but tells House caucus Donald Trump DOES bear 'some responsibility' for MAGA mob and floats censure motion, Reprieve for only woman on federal death row after judge grants 11th hour stay of execution for womb raider killer Lisa Montgomery pending a competency hearing, Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Beaming Harry and Meghan enjoy date night at private members' club, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Since her 2003 rescue, Smart credits her Mormon faith and her supportive, loving family as helping her deal with the aftermath of trauma. On this day in 2007, Shawn Hornbeck was finally reunited with his parents after he vanished without trace while riding his bike in Missouri four years earlier. In Touch Weekly is part of the a360media Entertainment Group.Copyright a360media 2023. A year after ordeal, kidnapped boy doing well. He was 11 years old. She still stays in touch with her colleagues who helped solve the case. Their cases made national news. Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox. They said they stayed close to him to help with his transition. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. Shawn Hornbeck was missing for over four years before being discovered on January 12, 2007, along with another teenage boy. 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. She was kept in an underground bunker for 10 days before being rescued. Kirkwood and Glendale police spoke with Shawn Devlin on more than one occasion in the years prior to Michael Devlins arrest. In 2013, the now 26-year-old gave her first interview since the kidnapping where she said she was attending college and planning to be a veterinarian. Eventually, Willett was able to get a confession from Devlin, and the FBI raided his apartment in search of the boys. In 2009, a story about a girl simply called Danielle who was raised in deplorable conditions and treated like a wild animal by her biological mother made headlines. Shawn Hornbeck stays close to his mother, Pam Akers, during a press conference Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, in Richwoods, the morning after he was found along with Ben Ownby in a Kirkwood. That evening, then-Fraklin County. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. We were sitting in the back seat, he was turned to look at me and I was turned to look at him. He is serving 74 life sentences. They had been kidnapped by Michael J. Devlin . The driver, Mike Devlin rushed to Shawn and appeared to be concerned for his safety. In an interview on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Hornbeck said he was too "terrified" to try to escape from Devlin's clutches. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Both he and Ben Ownby still live in the St. Louis area. While she was missing, her kidnapper kept her in a shed in the backyard where she was routinely raped and gave birth to two children that were fathered by the kidnapper. or redistributed. On October 6, 2002, Shawn Hornbeck left home on his bicycle in the rural area of Richwoods, Missouri. 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. Did Patty Hearst have Stockholm syndrome? "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. He was torn away from rural Richwoods, Mo., and taken to Kirkwood, more than 60 miles away. The bill was sponsored by Arizona Representative Paul Boyer. Shes now 25 years old, has two sons and lives in Idaho. Five years later, we watched together as Shawn Hornbeck was found alive. Their discovery became known as the Missouri Miracle.. The pair talked for hours. He will be missed," said Dawn . Anytime a child was missing he was the first onesick as a dogget up and try to help, said friend Angela Forshee. Abducted at the age of 10 in Austria, Natascha was kept in a secret cellar for eight years before she escaped in 2006. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. For the four years that followed, Shawn believed that his family would be harmed if he tried to run. This time it was from the lives of those who had known and cared for him during the four years he was missing, those who had unwittingly. If you or anyone you know has been sexually abused, call theNational Sexual Assault Hotlineat 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Knowing what its like being on the other side and potentially what may have happened and what may have led up to her final moments and understanding probably a lot of what she was feeling, its heartbreaking.. 'It's very comforting knowing I'm back with my family, but I've missed out on a lot of stuff,' he said. The truck belonged to store manager Michael Devlin, who eventually agreed to a search by agents Lynn Willett and Tina Richter. 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. Thats my first clue. Palmer said he was scrolling through stories on YouTube about children whod been abducted and were able to escape later. Authorities are investigating pictures of Shawn Hornbeck that were apparently taken during the four years the Missouri teen was missing. After hearing the news of Ownbys abduction, true crime investigator and late wife of comedian Patton Oswalt, Michelle McNamara began investigating the boys abduction. 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 . That night, Franklin County Sheriff Glen Toelke announced that both boys were found and alive. It was 1980. Steven had a difficult life after his escape and died at age 24 in a . I have them because I survived.. That was more traumatizing than the original event itself, he said. Shawn had taken this path many times before but this time, Shawn passed by Mike Devlin who bumped him with his truck. 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.. Hornbecks life suffered a severe schism when he was allegedly kidnapped at the age of 11. 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. 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. With the world transfixed on his story, Shawn spoke to Oprah Winfrey about his experience in 2007. She and another agent headed to the Kirkwood pizzeria because its manager, Michael Devlin, owned a truck that looked suspiciously similar to one that had been seen near the site of Ownbys abduction. On a daily basis you get so many weird, out there message.'. Chris Jewers For Mailonline Share this story with your friends and family. He will be missed, said Dawn Robertson, a family friend. McNamara, who also led the investigation into the Golden State Killer, found many connections between the two boys. Today, Devlin continues serving three life sentences at Crossroads. Shawn told no one about his situation, and nobody in Kirkwood suspected that he was the missing boy from Richmond - 50 miles away. Another child, 13, went missing five years later. Maybe its part of my mission, to reach out and offer hope., Hornbeck also showed off two tattoos he had, one on each forearm: faith and respect.. The couple appeared on The Montel Williams Show shortly after Shawns abduction to raise awareness of the case. 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. Your email address will not be published. On October 6, 2002, Shawn, aged 11, was kidnapped by 41-year-old pizza shop boss Michael Devlin. Shawn Hornbeck married and became a father. His story made national headlines in 2007 as the "Missouri Miracle." In a 2013. Later, Devlin admitted he kidnapped Ben because Shawn was getting too old for his liking, unwittingly confirming McNamaras theory. Today, Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby have found some sense of normalcy, living peacefully with their families in St. Louis. Devlin pleaded not guilt to two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed criminal action, and is being held on $1 million bond. ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) Ten years ago today, the FBI stormed into a small Kirkwood apartment complex and rescued Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby, marking the day many call The Missouri Miracle. In October 2002, the then 11-year-old Hornbeck was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friends home in Washington County. 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. Shawn Hornbeck was an 11 year old boy who was kidnapped while riding his bike to a friends house near Richwoods, Missouri. Washington. Shawn always took the same route and his parents trusted him to ride alone. Photo: AP Photo/Tom Gannam; AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, 24 Years After White Supremacists Lynched Her Dad, Daughter Speaks Out About Trauma and Journey to Peace, Daughter Sues Hospital for 'Assault, Battery, and False Imprisonment' of Kidney Patient Father, Retired Mo. We sat and spoke for quite a while, Willett told the paper. When then-FBI Special Agent Lynn Willett went to a pizza shop in Kirkwood, Missouri, 10 years ago, she did not expect to leave with a kidnapper in custody. The shocking photos appear to show Hornbeck, now 15,. Market data provided by Factset. Im a bad person, she said he confessed to her. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Both he and Ben Ownby still live in the St. Louis area. It has been like a dream, and we are afraid that we are going to wake up.'. FILE Shawn Hornbeck and his parents, Pam and Craig Akers, in 2013. 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. Contrary to what Browne told the family on national television, Shawn was still alive. Danielle, whos now a teenager, still suffers from developmental issues, but it was last reported that she was enjoying high school. In the interview, Oprah asked: 'I had read that you had gone to the Internet site to asked 'how long will you be looking for your son'. Shawn Hornbeck hugs his family after being rescued from the home of Michael Devlin. Meanwhile, for his tip and information, Mitchell Hults received a reward that included a new pickup truck. Adding to his isolation, he was apparently never re-enrolled in school and evidently made few friends in Devlins apartment complex. Once a cold case, the Missouri Miracle serves as evidence that determination, quick thinking, and an eye for detail can bring sometimes justice. An 11-year-old went missing in rural Missouri while riding his bike in 2002. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Teenage kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart has given birth to her third child. Listen Now On Jan. 12, 2007, Ben Ownby, 13, and Shawn Hornbeck, 15, were saved from Michael Devlin's apartment in St. Louis County. Im not gonna lie there were times when it seemed like I was better off dead.. Shawn Hornbeck stays close to his mother, Pam Akers, during a press conference Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, in Richwoods, the morning after he was found along with Ben Ownby in a Kirkwood apartment. Shawn was also made to pose as his abductors son. The young boy believed his family would be harmed if he attempted to escape or contact the police.

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