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Mo. man pleads not guilty to kidnapping boy; parents of 2nd teen say they think he was abused
The Associated Press
Issue date: 1/19/07 Section: News
UNION, Mo. - The parents of a Missouri teen told Oprah Winfrey in a show airing Thursday that their son hasn't told them directly, but they believe he was sexually abused during the more than four years he was missing.
"OK, I'm going to go there and ask you, what do you think happened? Do you think he was sexually abused?" Winfrey asked Craig and Pam Akers, parents of 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck.
Both nodded and said, "Yes."
The comments were broadcast the day pizzeria worker Michael Devlin pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping another boy, Ben Ownby, 13, who was found last week in Devlin's apartment with Shawn, who was on the show Thursday with his parents.
Devlin's attorney, Michael Kielty, declined to respond to the claim of sexual abuse, saying he hasn't seen evidence in the case. "The only thing I have is an allegation," he said.
Authorities have said that Devlin confessed to kidnapping Ben, but Kielty would not discuss that.
While it is The Associated Press' policy not to identify alleged victims of sexual abuse in most cases, Shawn's case has been widely publicized and his name is well-known. Also, the family has gone public, conducting several national interviews.
Pam Akers said she did not know when Winfrey asked if her son was tortured, but her husband, Shawn's stepfather, stressed that something happened to dramatically change the boy.
"I have no doubt that mentally he's not the same boy he was," he said.
Shawn told Winfrey he always hoped for a reunion with his family.
"I prayed that one day my parents would find me and I'd be united," he said.
Shawn said he was not ready to discuss details of his abduction and the subsequent 51 months he spent living with Devlin. Winfrey said the boy told her off-camera that he was "terrified" to contact his parents during the last four years.
The boy's parents told Winfrey they have not asked their son what happened on the advice of child advocacy experts, but are convinced their son did not contact them out of fear for his life, theirs or other members of their family.
"OK, I'm going to go there and ask you, what do you think happened? Do you think he was sexually abused?" Winfrey asked Craig and Pam Akers, parents of 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck.
Both nodded and said, "Yes."
The comments were broadcast the day pizzeria worker Michael Devlin pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping another boy, Ben Ownby, 13, who was found last week in Devlin's apartment with Shawn, who was on the show Thursday with his parents.
Devlin's attorney, Michael Kielty, declined to respond to the claim of sexual abuse, saying he hasn't seen evidence in the case. "The only thing I have is an allegation," he said.
Authorities have said that Devlin confessed to kidnapping Ben, but Kielty would not discuss that.
While it is The Associated Press' policy not to identify alleged victims of sexual abuse in most cases, Shawn's case has been widely publicized and his name is well-known. Also, the family has gone public, conducting several national interviews.
Pam Akers said she did not know when Winfrey asked if her son was tortured, but her husband, Shawn's stepfather, stressed that something happened to dramatically change the boy.
"I have no doubt that mentally he's not the same boy he was," he said.
Shawn told Winfrey he always hoped for a reunion with his family.
"I prayed that one day my parents would find me and I'd be united," he said.
Shawn said he was not ready to discuss details of his abduction and the subsequent 51 months he spent living with Devlin. Winfrey said the boy told her off-camera that he was "terrified" to contact his parents during the last four years.
The boy's parents told Winfrey they have not asked their son what happened on the advice of child advocacy experts, but are convinced their son did not contact them out of fear for his life, theirs or other members of their family.
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