Shawn Hornbeck's Kidnapping

637 Words2 Pages

Kidnapping is when an individual taken unwantedly with force. Sometimes people do it for a ransom, and others do it for enjoyment or pleasure. This one of the worst things someone could endure during their lifetime. It will scar people emotionally and physically. Sadly, in this case, two kids were kidnapped 4 years apart by the same man.
This kidnapper’s name is Michael J. Devlin. He put these kids through pain no one should have to endure. At the time of these kidnappings, he was a manager at a pizza parlor in Kirkwood, Missouri. He was raised in Webster Grove, and owned a one bedroom apartment. The kids he kidnapped were Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby (O’Neil).
Shawn Hornbeck is now a kidnapping survivor who had 4 years taken away from his life. He is now 25 years old and attends a private school in St. Louis, Missouri. He also has a job at a factory in Pevely. Shawn was only 11 years old when he was taken (O’Neil). He was riding his bike to his friend’s house when Michael Devlin pushed him off his bike and put him in his truck (“Kidnapped Boy Recounts). Devlin used a handgun …show more content…

At one point, Devlin tried to strangle him but stopped after Shawn promised he would never tell anyone (“Kidnapped Boy Recounts”). Devlin made Shawn take on the last name Shawn Devlin instead of Hornbeck. Devlin also admitted in court that he took pornographic images and videos of Shawn and taking him across state lines to engage in sex acts (“Pedophile Used”). Those were few of many things Devlin did to Shawn. Eventually, throughout the 4 years, Devlin let Shawn hangout with buddies, get a cell phone, and go on dates (O’Neil). Shawn could have easily escaped. However, Shawn didn’t because he said that Devlin would have killed him (“Kidnapped Boy Recounts”). Four years after Shawn was kidnapped, Ben Ownby was

More about Shawn Hornbeck's Kidnapping

Open Document