GUILTY MO - Shawn Hornbeck & Ben Ownby abducted by Michael Devlin, 2007

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God heard and answered us. Ben was the messenger sent to bring Shawn home. I believe in miracles.
 
Beyond Belief said:
God heard and answered us. Ben was the messenger sent to bring Shawn home. I believe in miracles.
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What a beautiful sentiment
blowkises.gif
I agree and my heart is so full right now!
 
What a great ending--and LionRun, you were absolutely right when you said this perp had done it before--nice call
 
Beyond Belief said:
God heard and answered us. Ben was the messenger sent to bring Shawn home. I believe in miracles.
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Yes, remember you said to just keep praying? I only had a speck of hope. But, if there is even a micro amount of hope left I NEVER give up. I am so happy.

Thank You Dear Lord for answering our prayers in this way. You gave us back two boys and we are most grateful.

LionRun
 
This is incredible! I cannot believe they found both of these boys unharmed (hoping that preliminary reports are true!). This is going to be one amazing story to read as it unfolds.

Thank you God for bringing them safely home!

http://www.comcast.net/news/nationa...=/2007/01/12/561359.html&cvqh=itn_missingboys

BEAUFORT, Mo. - A 13-year-old boy who vanished from the gravel road near his home five days ago was found alive Friday about 60 miles away in a suburban St. Louis home, along with a 15-year-old boy missing since 2002, authorities said.

The boys were found in a Kirkwood home belonging to Michael Devlin, 41, who has been charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping, Sheriff Gary Toelke said.

The sheriff said both boys appeared unharmed. William Ownby, who goes by Ben, appeared somewhat dazed as he walked inside the sheriff's department, where he was reunited with his family Friday night.

"His eyes lit up like silver dollars," said Loyd Bailie, who was escorted to the Franklin County Sherrif's Department with Ben's parents. Everyone broke into tears and Ben's parents embraced him as tightly as they could, Bailie said.

more at link
 
Ohm My. What a great New Year we are having.My heart is flying with happiness.This is just wonderful. Will be waiting for more news.Thanks to you all for all your great posts.
 
Hi sleuthers. The first 4 threads were initiated as a result of Ben’s abduction and/or the miraculous safe recovery of Ben and Shawn. The 5th thread began as a, “Shawn Hornbeck” thread, but now has info about both boys and their recovery. Of course which ever thread you are on right now eliminate from the list of the 5. Hope this helps.

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45948&highlight=Ownby

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46062&highlight=Ownby



http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45944&highlight=Ownby

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46064&highlight=Ownby

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42873&highlight=Ownby



LionRun

Found one more

http://websleuths.com/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=1283011
 
Praise the Lord for answered prayers, and the added good news of the other boy! :woohoo: That part is absolutely shocking! He will need mucho prayers!
 
Hi Dark Knight. Isn't is it joyous news? I went into a stage of denial upon hearing about Ben, and then I went back into denial when I realized Shawn was found too.

Both boys, especially perhaps young Shawn will need many prayers, their loving families to support and nurture them, and the best therapy available.

Thank you Dearest Lord for answering our prayers and giving back two boys to their families. And, Lord, please help Shawn, Ben, and their families heal, if is in Your will. Amen.

LionRun
 
Watching CNN--- Just tears of Joy here- so good to see these boys faces.


Hope the spends rest of his days behind bars!!!!

Steven's abuctor that held him for 7 yrs? got such a light sentence , and poor Steven died at the age of 21 in a car accident :(
 
last i heard on the news was the abductor was being held on one count of kidnaping
 
They are reporting that the reason they found these boys is because a classmate of the 13 year old was paying attention when he got off the bus and saw a beat up white truck speeding away at the same time as the disappearance (sorry I had 25 of my daughter's friends here last night for a sleepover and I am brain dead with remembering names today). That is all the cops had to go on. When a pick up matching the description was noticed, the cops were alerted and called in. What a very alert young man to have been paying such attention. Both victims may owe their lives to him.:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
kidzndogznme said:
They are reporting that the reason they found these boys is because a classmate of the 13 year old was paying attention when he got off the bus and saw a beat up white truck speeding away at the same time as the disappearance (sorry I had 25 of my daughter's friends here last night for a sleepover and I am brain dead with remembering names today). That is all the cops had to go on. When a pick up matching the description was noticed, the cops were alerted and called in. What a very alert young man to have been paying such attention. Both victims may owe their lives to him.:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
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That observant kid deserves a citizenship metal and a big fat check for college!

Someone call The Donald! Or............Rosie!
 
Jeana was right, the last thread became too long. Sometimes we need a thread to post to that doesn't fit the subject of other threads on the Board.
 
Thanks Tom'sGirl for starting this thread! :)

I have a question and don't want to mess up the Legal Proceedings thread with a question that might lead to speculation and opinion.

Am I correct that although Devlin's plea is "not guilty" in the kidnapping of Ben and of Shawn in both Franklin and Washington counties, he did initially admit to kidnapping Ben? And, when the St. Louis County prosecutor filed the 71 charges on Monday, one of the articles stated that Devlin admitted to those charges.

My question........is it a matter legally that Devlin is guilty, but will use those "not guilty" pleas in an attempt to mitigate his sentence to the lesser of two evils, state prison versus mental hospital?

I'm reminded of John Hinckley, the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. His defense argued for Hinckley to be placed in a mental hospital. Hinckley has been institutionalized in a mental hospital ever since, but in recent years has been given lengthy passes out of the hospital to visit with his parents and relatives. At some point, he may be allowed to remain out of the hospital. I'd hate to think of Devlin ever getting the opportunity to be released from a mental hospital

The prosecutors in the case don't have to agree to any plea bargaining, but if they don't, doesn't that mean that there has to be a trial?
 
Leila said:
Thanks Tom'sGirl for starting this thread! :)

I have a question and don't want to mess up the Legal Proceedings thread with a question that might lead to speculation and opinion.

Am I correct that although Devlin's plea is "not guilty" in the kidnapping of Ben and of Shawn in both Franklin and Washington counties, he did initially admit to kidnapping Ben? And, when the St. Louis County prosecutor filed the 71 charges on Monday, one of the articles stated that Devlin admitted to those charges.

My question........is it a matter legally that Devlin is guilty, but will use those "not guilty" pleas in an attempt to mitigate his sentence to the lesser of two evils, state prison versus mental hospital?

I'm reminded of John Hinckley, the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan. His defense argued for Hinckley to be placed in a mental hospital. Hinckley has been institutionalized in a mental hospital ever since, but in recent years has been given lengthy passes out of the hospital to visit with his parents and relatives. At some point, he may be allowed to remain out of the hospital. I'd hate to think of Devlin ever getting the opportunity to be released from a mental hospital

The prosecutors in the case don't have to agree to any plea bargaining, but if they don't, doesn't that mean that there has to be a trial?
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There are many here who are well versed in the law (I'm not one of them) that could answer that question..............anyone???


ETA: I dug this up from an old article:

UNION, Missouri (CNN) -- Pizza manager Michael J. Devlin admitted to police that he snatched a 13-year-old Missouri boy, a prosecutor said Thursday.

"When Mr. Devlin was taken into custody, he did confess that he had kidnapped Ben Ownby from Franklin County," prosecutor Robert Parks said.

Devlin, 41, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping a child under age 14 at a hearing Thursday. The boy was referred to in court by his initials, "W.O.

"I'm not guilty," Devlin said during a brief appearance via video link from the county jail. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years to life in prison.

Security concerns kept Devlin from appearing in person before Judge David Tobin at the Franklin County Courthouse. He is being held in isolation on $1 million bail.

Devlin's attorneys said the not guilty plea was a procedural matter. They would not comment on the alleged confession, which was revealed after the hearing.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/01/18/devlin.hearing/index.html
 
A question: Does anyone know how far MD's apartment is from his parent's house?

The reason I'm asking is because I've wondered if there was any way MD could have taken Shawn by his parents' house (right before his surgery) so Shawn could sneak over there during the night to hide in Devlin's room. Devlin's parents are elderly, and depending on how MD's bedroom was set up compared to the rest of the house, maybe it's a possibility?
 
Am I thinking right on this? It was said by someone on Nancy Grace. Some lady nancy was interviewing. That she would like to see Delvin go to a mental instioution. Well don't you have to be proven mentally incomp. to use in insanity defense? Well when Delvin stated he didn't know what he was going to tell his parents. By him saying that shows that he knows he did wrong. So he knew the difference between right and wrong. To use the insanity defense you can't distinguish between right and wrong. Isn't this right? TY
 
Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Parks said Devlin confessed to kidnapping Ownby when he was arrested. But Devlin’s attorneys, Ethan Corlija and Michael Kielty, said a guilty plea is not an option. Devlin appeared before Judge David Tobin. Corlija said Tobin has no authority as an associate circuit judge under Missouri law to accept a guilty plea.

http://www.courthousenews.com/Jump.Jan.18.htm

I think it's just a technicality at this point...
 
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