Shawn Hornbeck

Shawn Hornbeck was reported missing after he did not return home after a bicycle ride near his home in Richwood, Missouri in 2002. In January, 2007, Hornbeck and Ben Ownby were found at the apartment of Michael Devlin. Devlin was convicted of kidnapping, attempted murder, and forcible sodomy in connection with Shawn's abduction.

Kidnapped

In 2002, Michael Devlin kidnapped 11-year old Shawn Hornbeck, sexually abused him, tied him to a futon for a month, and then attempted to strangle him to death. In order to prevent Devlin from killing him, Hornbeck offered to do whatever Devlin asked—including posing as Devlin's son. Devlin agreed, but told Hornbeck that he would kill him if he ever tried to escape. In January, 2007, Devlin kidnapped another child, 13-year old Ben Ownby. Four days later, police searching for Ownby discovered both Hornbeck and Ownby alive at Devlin's Kirkwood, Missouri home.

Liberation and Aftermath

After being liberated, Hornbeck became an immediate celebrity and a rare symbol of hope for parents of missing children. Right-wing talk show host Bill O'Reilly came under fire for suggesting that Hornbeck somehow enjoyed his torture and incarceration. In October, 2007, Devlin was sentenced to three consecutive life terms on charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, and forcible sodomy. In the aftermath, Hornbeck's parents, Pam and Craig Akers set up the Craig Hornbeck Foundation to offer hope to the parents of missing children and to prevent abductions in the first place.