O'Reilly will probably have to eat his words big-time as the facts continue to unfold in the Devlin case.
It's entirely possible that the rescue of these 2 boys saved Shawn Hornbeck from imminent death. If the younger Ben had been selected as the "replacement" for Shawn (who, as he aged was no doubt less cooperative), it stands to reason that the next step would be to eliminate Shawn. Devlin was probably just waiting until he had another day off.
The horrible truth in this is that O'Reilly's rating are going to go through the roof with people watching and waiting to see what the fool will do next.
Totally agree with you about Reilly. He is an asshole. Read in another forum that Shawns grandmother had told local news that Shawn would be woken by Devlin every 45 minutes and not allowed to sleep long. This must have been one of the ways he exerted his control over the boy in the beginning. Reilly needs to start doing some research into this case.
Latest police report is that he was "terrorized" and held at gun point -- at least in the beginning.
As far as Shawn being a "wierd" kid and not liking school -- that's certainly not what his 5th grade teacher (Donna Miley) reports -- she described Shawn as being spunky, and occasionally involved in typical highjinks with the other boys -- like traipsing over the library tables (remember -- 11 years old). He liked playing basketball and drawing pictures of cars. She called him a "good kid."
Shawn was obviously a child with a close relationship with his family -- friends reported he idolized his step-father (his own father had died), and imitated everything he did -- such as drinking diet sodas, and helping his Dad fix dirt bikes. It's obvious from the way he clutches his mother and sisters' hands in news conferences and interviews that he loves them, and is overjoyed to be reunited with his family.
O'Reilly obviously does NOT understand children. If he taught high school with the same harsh, judgemental attitude that he displays on the air, it's no wonder kids didn't want to be in his class. Heck, I'd cut class if I had an ass like that for a teacher.
One can't help but wonder if the new NAMBLA poster boy didn't seek out that high school job for ulterior reasons?
Oh look! T-shirts!
http://www.cafepress.com/ihatebi...atebillo/
259396
It might be interesting to hear Asshat O'Reilly explain his words in a lawsuit brought about by Shawn's parents or in a resignation speech when Fox suggests he find other employment.
The excitement O'Reilly's words must have caused across NAMBLA boards can ony be imagined — i'm not willing to trawl them to find out, but i have a faily good idea NAMBLA members are rejoicing.
well done O'Reilly. you have a new group of fans. 
O'Reilly is going to be on Comedy Central "Colbert" today... Should be interesting...
Even if one dare have these idiotic suspicions, such as Bill, it is potentially disasterous to the child to voice them before the details emerge. It is obvious, O'Reilly and others I've seen comment on this board have little concern for the child when it comes to their inflamatory accusations.
Number one objective: Support, care, and love Ben and Shawn. The details will come with time. One very important detail is this: this child did NOT kidnap himself!!! Whatever occurred between age 11 and 15 was in order to survive.
I personally am of the opinion that Shawn is an amazing kid. He survived. It looks like others may not have.
One more point I've been withholding as I've followed this story. Shame keeps us from the ones we love the most. No doubt Devlin subjected poor Shawn to immense shame.
The "shame" factor looms large in my mind, as well. Very easy for Devlin to tell the boy that he'll show his parents what he has been up to.
Shawn and his family could benefit from counselling.
So could O'Reilly, for that matter, but he's too arrogant to see it.
I wish I knew how to get rid of that stupid little picture! LOL! It has been following me around for over a year!
I really hate to even think that in any way I could agree with O'Reilly, and I am not saying I do, but I am seeing that everyone is assuming a lot and the facts of the case are not out, and may not come out for a long time.
I have been watching this with interest for two big reasons. First, it is right in my back yard. I am in the St. Louis suburbs and with the local news, radio shows, and local gossip, I have heard a lot. The second thing is that I was victimized by a person who I think is a lot like this Devlin guy.
I was not kidnapped, but I was eleven when it started, and the thing that people keep wanting to dismiss is the fact that predators like that groom their victims.
Make no mistake, Shawn was abducted, and while it may have been with threat and violence, it did not have to be. An eleven year old is shockingly easily suggestable, especially if there is something wrong at home. That is why while I hate to say it, I know from personal experience that in the end Shawn may have stayed because it was not as horrible as many people might think.
I really mean no disrespect to anyone especially the children that were victimized or their families, but I felt that I had to say that while I think O'reilly is a windbag, and was extremely insensitive to say what he did the way he did, I just wanted to say that there is a small grain of truth to it.
I don't think that he is the person to speak with any authority on the subject though. I think that if people heard from people (especially boys) who have been victimized by a pedophile you will find that it is shockingly easy for the predator to groom them.
I feel terrible for Shawn and know that he has an extremely difficult road ahead of him. I sort of think that his family should consider changing their names and moving far away to spare Shawn a lot of the issues that he has coming. I was victimized at eleven years old until I was about thirteen. I am now Thirty, and still in therapy dealing with the long term effects of the whole ordeal.
I am one former BOR fan who will never watch his show again after hearing his comments on Shawn Hornbeck. I'd actually admired his stance calling for harsher sentences for child predators, which makes his current attitude even more shocking to me. I can't even stand to look at his face now, he just disgusts me. It's always so tragic when a child is the victim of a crime, but I accept that there are evil people in the world who do evil things, and we have to learn to try to prevent those things and deal with them when they do occur despite our best efforts. But I find it hard to fathom how supposedly "good" people can further compound the tragedy of a crime by blaming the victim of the crime. Things like that really make me lose faith in humanity. When I think of the pain and terror Shawn Hornbeck went through, and then think of him having to deal with comments like those of BOR, it just breaks my heart. I'm glad there are so many people speaking out against the attitudes of BOR and others like them, I just wish it wasn't necessary.
My letter to BOR:
Bill, Thumbs up for your coverage of the deplorable situation in Vermont regarding treatment of child abuse offenders.
However, a HUGE thumbs down for your comments regarding Shawn Hornbeck. Yes, you taught teenagers for a couple of years, and know what a "normal" teenager is capable of doing. However, have you ever parented an abused child? A child who has been so frightened, so traumatized, so abused both emotionally and physically that they have retreated into themselves completely?
As a foster parent for almost 20 years, I have. I have sat by the bed and held a frightened child's hand all night in order to assure them that the monsters will not get them again. I have rocked them for hours assuring them that the abuse they suffered was not their fault. I have fought their demons with them, and sometimes we have won, sometimes we have not. I have listened as they tell about the threats made by their abuser(s) towards them, their families, their homes, and their very lives - trying to explain why they didn't tell, and to understand it themselves. Even as my children have grown into wonderful adults, with children of their own, we sometimes re-visit the pain and anguish of their horrible past.
Many children don't report abuse. Abused spouses sometimes stay in the abusive relationships for years. Victims of rape often don't report the crime. Why? Many feel shame, some feel fear, and some actually blank the experiences out of their minds completely.
I don't pretend to know what was going through Shawn Hornbeck's mind. What I do know is that he is the VICTIM here. He was 11 years old when he was initially victimized. He is NOT AT FAULT !!
Your comments "Authorities actually say that he taunted his own parents on his website. He's got these piercing this is a troubled kid in my opinion -" are unproven and way off base. Is he a troubled kid? Yes - he has been a VICTIM for 4 years and 3 months. Where's the proof that the notes on the website were done by him? If done by him, where's the proof that it was a taunt, and not a cry for help?
When did you decide that your admirable attempts to be a strong advocate for children stopped when they reached age 15? When did you decide that you would participate in the media's frenzied attempts to turn Shawn into something less than a victim.
I'm a huge fan Bill, but the money I was going to spend on a Premium Membership will now be donated to the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation to assist their efforts to locate other lost children.
Thanks,
BJ
I've said this before but I'm still mad so I'm saying it again.
One wonders if there might not be grounds for a lawsuit for slandering a minor child. I hope Billyclub and Fox News are prepared to pay for Shawn Hornbeck's college education, however delayed it might be after having spent fifth through ninth grades living with a kiddie-porn owning pedophile. 'Cause that's way better than, oh, i dunno, living at home with your parents and going to school, according to Bill. Retch.
I mean, when I was eleven all I really wanted was a few years of being subjected to forced fellatio and ass-raping. RIIIIIIGHT. And if some 300-lb guy with a gun tried to make me do something I didn't "like", well, I'd kick his ass with my eighty pounds of sheer force and head right on home using my mental compass over fifty miles. On my bike. You betcha.
And, um, "troubled"? Well, what do ya know, he thinks a kid who's been physically, sexually and psychologically manipulated without his consent for the entire of his pubescent years might be troubled? Yathink, Bill? I'm troubled, and I'm not even the victim here.
Bill O'Reilly is a pedophile's dream defense pundit. Perhaps he needs to stick to his falafel and leave abducted minors alone.
IMO, BOR's response to this heinous crime is nothing more than an extension of the mess he was involved in a few years ago. After all, couldn't that woman who BOR sexually stalked have just walked away? And thus, couldn't this 15 year old boy have simply walked away? In BOR's mind, if they didn't walk away, they must have liked it. It's the same twisted and perverted thinking applicable to every other pedophile ... they've harmed no one because all of these kids secretly like what the pedos are dishing out. The only difference here, IMO, is that most pedos are lurking behind closed doors where no one can see their ugly deeds... but BOR is hiding in plain sight on national TV and getting paid big bucks to spew his outrageous opinions. It's beyond outrageous and we, the American public, are the only ones that can put a stop to it. Quit watching his show, bring down his ratings and watch him fall like the scumbag he is.
Why do you think that child porn is so widespread and pervasive? It's because there are people out there who think like O'Reilly does. Meanwhile, child porn is now being mainstreamed by Hollywood with productions like the new Dakota Fanning movie. This isn't the first instance of it. I recall a movie titled "Bastard Out of Carolina" that was much like the descriptions I've heard of this latest movie. Where's the outrage over those thing? Very few people are outspoken about it. It's being defended as art by Hollywood and university professors. When you get right down to it, too many people share NAMBLA's beliefs.
This is in response to Robert, who commented at 10:03 a.m.
No, I do not agree. There isn't a grain of truth to what Bill Falafel Loofah O'Reilly said. It was a mighty load of bullshit based on half-assed impressions he had from a brief experience teaching high school students 34 years ago. And I'd be real surprised to find out Bill taught inner-city kids from tough homes. The chances are better that he taught suburban whitebread kids with no greater worries at the time than getting their driving privileges yanked for parents finding weed in their bedrooms.
Robert, he was talking out of his ass. And I hope you are in serious therapy, Robert, if your story is true, because honestly, your perspective as expressed in your comment makes me uncomfortable.
Lines aren't always blurry, Robert. Some things are just wrong. Bill O'Reilly was wrong to say what he did, and he should be called on it.
Responding to Spencer, who commented at 10:44 a.m. --
Amen. And thank you for drawing that comparison between O'Reilly's own sexually-related troubles and this, I think you are dead-on.
i remeber reading a book about a kidnapping of a woman who was put in a box under a bed by a husband & wife. like the boys she was finally given a lil freedom but didnt say anything to her family when her kidnapper let her vist them. everybody doubted her when she finally notifed authoritys. they said she was brainwashed also. i cant remeber the name of the book tho. i read alot of true crime books people think im a lil nuts. oh well
The Oprah site says that Shawn has said one of the biggest things he's looking forward to is going back to school. Another nail in the coffin for Bill's idiotic ideas:
GVS: Some kids like school...
BOR: Well I don't believe this kid did. And I think when it all comes down what's going to happen is there was an element here that this kid liked about his circumstances...
Still waiting for the public apology, Bill...
O'Reilly is a blithering idiot. Every conservative I know wishes O'Reilly would become a democrat.
-jcr
Still. Pissed. OFF.
So i wrote Comedy Central in hopes of reaching Stephen Colbert's staff, since Colbert will be playing mental tennis with Nambla O'Reilly later today. And I wrote Bill again. And my local Missouri newspaper. And Fox News. And and and.
Bill O'Reilly needs to come off the air. He makes Judith Regan look very nearly acceptable.And that in itself should be a fireable offense.
I'd also like to point out that it has already been reported Devlin threatened to kill not only Shawn, but his whole family if Shawn tried to escape. A neighbor of Devlin reported that she heard shouting late at night, and what sounded like Shawn pleading with Devlin not to do something. Another neighbor reported seeing a shelf of sex toys and dildos through Devlin's open window. This is not, in my opinion, a case of Stockholm's Syndrome, where a captive begins to sympathize and identify with his captor. I think Shawn was probably in fear of his life, and in fear for the lives of his family, whom he is obviously very close to. Anyone who saw the press conference and saw Shawn's expression as he looked at his mother and stepfather could tell that. I believe he chose not to escape because he didn't want to die, and he didn't want his family to be killed. Personally, I don't think we need to hear the details of what Shawn went through, and hope all of it never comes out. I've certainly heard enough. This kid deserves our compassion, and some privacy.
Do you think O'Reilly would show the same utter lack of sensitivity (and common sense) toward his own child or a co-worker's child if they experienced something like Shawn Hornbeck did? I doubt very much he'd be flapping his jaw like he's doing now. Unbelievable.
BJ- that was an incredible letter. Thank you for sharing it.
Steve - Bless you, man. I like the comments.
The Oprah show, to air today, is already on her website with full quotes of the interview and even though they don't go into detail anyone reading it would know that Shawn was terrified to leave. He said he prayed every night that he would see his parents again. As another reader just stated, Shaw also said he couldn't wait to go back to school. He said a lot when he briefly talked about Ben Ownby,
"[I feel] thankful that he held in there for those couple of days, and I'm sorry for what he went through, because I told myself a long time ago I never want any other kid to go through what I went through," Shawn says. "But I am thankful for him for holding in there, and I'm happy that he's back with his family."
That's very telling of what he must have went through. O'Reilly (i've never been a fan since i'm a total liberal) needs to be called out on his comments. I think everyone should send letters first to Colbert (immediately as the show is taping soon) and then Fox.
This is just sickening, frankly. How can anyone judge what Shawn, Ben or anyone else in Devlin's grasp endured?
Again, your eloquence has hit The O'Reilly Nail on the head. I absolutely agree and hope (this time) O'Reilly is held strongly accountable for his disgraceful conduct toward this child, whom O'Reilly himself is victimizing.
I may well be alone in my further opinion that the Hornbeck child's parents (and apparently Ownby's also) have lost their minds completely by allowing these children to be interviewed by ANYONE in the media, including Oprah. They have been safely returned home for less than a week, and they're already hitting a talk show? Regardless of how well the Oprah show will treat this story and these children and their families, moreover the HUGE importance to families everywhere this show will have, my stomach heaves at the notion of the parents thinking this and any other interviews beyond legal authorities involved in the investigations is a good thing to do.
I used to watch O'Reilly years ago. I liked his stand on crime, especially sexual predators. However, over the years, he lost me as I came to realize that not only was he a hypocrite, but he had no integrity as a person or as a journalist. However, every now & then, I tuned in for the 1st 5 min to see what nonsense he'd be spewing. And so I did that on Monday, 1/15 during that infamous interview with Greta. Honestly, I couldn't believe my ears and I tuned out knowing I'd hear about it in the news - but there hasn't been enough outrage and there should be. At that time, I chalked it down to BO being BO. Stinks everytime. I don't know whether he realizes that an 11 yr old is still a child. Anyway, about his being fired from Fox, I think we all know that it's just a matter of time before he really shoots himself in the foot. I think RMurdoch is just bidding his time, waiting to see what next stupid move Bill will make because the way he is going, he is destined to. He seems to be on a collision course with disaster. Believe u me, BO will deliver - spectacularly.
i didnt know that true crime was a liberal blog
this morning lufa boy attacked the left wing blogs for coming after him regarding this case
he will never apologogize
he is deluded and dangerous
he is the worst person in the world
truecrime is NOT a liberal blog. it's NOT a conservative blog. it's a CRIME blog. i've been reading it from the beginning. i knew that steve leaned towards the right. but his opinions i've never disagreed with (concerning crime) and i'm way way over on the left. steve said it himself. you can't pigeon hole him.
I can't help but wonder if time will show that Shawn was the only one who survived this alleged kidnapper/pedophile. This is without considering Ben whose was saved early on in this nut's plan. I think Shawn should be commended for having made it through this nightmare. I really hope that he can some day feel comfortable to share what he did to get through this. That is if some ignorant talking heads don't convince him that he was somehow at fault for his own kidnapping and force him to clam up. He may have some very important information that could benefit us all.
monika,
i think you missed my point
this is lufa boy's mo...
when he is wrong, he verbally states that the left is attacking him for his views....even when the right and center do too
this is why he will not apologize for his views
he foists his ignorant opinions upon the masses
i know that many on here have lauded him for his stance regarding strengthening child molestation laws
i never bought his act for a second
for much of what he was really doing was to attack the courts and also pushed for many laws that even law enforcement officials were against (such as the new monica's law approved by the voters here in california, that will cost our state millions to enforce and may not reduce child molestation)
lufa boy's take has always been regarding stranger rape and abduction, when the vast majority of crimes in this area occur from family members, friends and authority figures....yet he remains strangely silent regarding the need to fix our social service system in most states
he is a huxter...a carney,,,a showman
he is not the voice of the protector of children
so please, lets be clear....oreilley's stance had more to do with putting forth the neo con agenda and attacking liberals than with truly protecting the children of our country...and his take on the hornbeck case should show that
Deborah, I thought the same thing about the family appearing on the Oprah show, but maybe they just want everyone to see that Shawn is okay, although obviously traumatized, but that he has survived. One of the quotes from Shawn is that he wanted to appear on the show to let other families with missing children know that there is hope. Hopefully, it will give him some comfort to think he is helping other families in some small way. When Ben Ownby appeared on the Today show, he seemed so happy and normal, and everyone was so happy for him, including me, but I also thought how sad it was that Shawn was not getting the same kind of positive attention. Of course, it would be nice if he could get it without people like BOR attacking him.
Deborah,
I agree with your thinking that this is entirely too early in the investigation & IMO very UN-ADVISABLE to take this case the the air-ways via Oprah & other shows IF THEY INCLUDE THE BOYS.
I understand the parents wanting to give hope to other parents of missing children, but I think that could have been accomplished without having Shawn sitting in the front row.
It was my hope that they would have been advised otherwise by Attys.
Again, this is JMO
In response to Steve,
I think that after reading your response and re reading my comment, I don't think that my point was very clear...
First off, I do not listen to O'reilly, I have heard him on occasion and I always end up pissed off. He is arrogant and is no expert on anything. He completely lost my respect when he stated that in World War 2 our troops massacred soldiers in the Malmandy massacre. My Grandpa was a battle of the Bulge survivor, and had he still been alive to hear that he would have been out for blood. O'Reilly made a mistake, but he has no right reporting without having his facts straight. Something he criticizes other reporters for continually.
Anyway my point in posting to start with is that no one knows what Shawn's home life was like, and while I am positive that Devlin kept Shawn against his will, at some point a victim and the perp can and do bond.
And while what happened to me is in no way close to as traumatic as what Shawn had to have gone through, I know from experience that an eleven year old (especially from a chaotic home) is easy prey for these types of predators.
One thing that I am sure any cop or FBI profiler would say is that the typical pedophile does not need to resort to violence, they find a weakness and exploit it and try to win favor with the victim. If you research these people they often say that they find something the child lacks and fills that void. The other thing is that not all pedophiles resort to violent penetration to get their jollies, so to a child that is screwed up to start with, and just getting ready to hit puberty, what is happening to them sexually might be uncomfortable or unpleasant, but the predator makes up for this with some form of reward.
The thing that bothers me a lot is that people keep saying that if you imply that Shawn made decisions, you are blaming him. That is totally crap. The whole point is that the pedophiles are that dangerous, and they know how to manipulate a person to be exactly what they want them to be. And to me Shawn became complacent with his situation.
Obviously I don't know any more than anyone else, I am just saying that my home life was not great, but it was not horrible either, but I was groomed to believe that this man was a better alternative.
It happens and people don't like to know that it is that easy for someone to corrupt innocence that easily.
I don't know anything about the Hornbeck family but there is no perfect family and that is all it takes for a predator to latch on.
Anyway, I love this site and have been following your blogs for quite a while and wanted to tell you to keep up the great work.
Luckily, I don't get fox news. I'm already angry enough at the idiots in Bill's corner. I don't need to watch the man myself, but plan to tonight on the Colbert Report. Uh-huh. And I think they said Colbert will then be on O'Reilly's show.
I doubt Stephen Colbert is primarily interested, as we are, in the Hornbeck saga, but I can't wait to see how many ways he nails him to the wall. I hope.
As for the Oprah thing, heck, I almost left work "sick" so I could watch it! There's enough info on her website. I have been wondering too about whether they've jumped the gun. BUT, the more I think about it, the more I'm ok with it (ha! Like it's MY decision!) because this is just the way our society works now. Are we not constantly saturated with detailed crime news already? Aren't "reality" programs more popular than about any other? If you are the subject of any kind of reknown these days, you are going to be in the limelight, whether you want to or not.
Everybody, including his schoolmates, neighbors, EVERYbody in the world, damn near, is going to know more than we really want, about what happened to him.
We also investigate, try, and judge criminals all over the tv and internet. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but that's the way it is now.
We are helping him get over the shame we assume he's feeling by allowing him and his family to go public and let us see how well they're doing. They've NOTHING to be ashamed of or hide from.
I do think they should have someone look into the possibility of suing O'Reilly & fox news for something. I am starting to think that blaming a victim should be a crime!
-Az
Dr. Drew once stated that the biggest plauge of the 21st Century would not be AIDS or Bird Flu or SARS or Ebola, but Narcissism. I believe he was right.
O'Reilly no doubt identifies with the kidnapper in this case, as they are both Narcissists with highly inflated opinions of their intelligence and a penchant for forcing themselves on others. In O'reilly's case he has more money than Devlin and prefers off-age women, that's all.
I would suspect that most sexual predators, batterers, and fast-talking con men all share Narcissism in common.
Snakes in Suits/People of the Lie, indeed.
I have not watched The Factor in a long time simply because of this mans arrogance. I love intelligent men always have, but this guys ego quickly outweighs any inteeligence he might have. He has a God complex and probably a small penis to boot! LOL
Bill O'Reilly may be a bit of a predator himself.
You did notice on Devlin's MySpace page that he describes himself as a "Leather Master Daddy Bear", right?
For the un-initiated, let me translate that description:
Leather - He's into Bondage and Discipline.
Master - He's the one who holds the whips, and ties people up. You scream, he tightens the ropes to make you scream louder.
Daddy - He likes younger guys
Bear - He's a big, possibly hairy guy.
Bill now owes Shawn that appology he'd said he'd give him if evidence came forth showing that Shawn didn't believe he could leave (Watch Oprah today, or visit her website. The proof O'Reilly asked for comes straight from Shawn's lips in response to a question from Oprah.).
Pay up, Bill!
Bill, what subjects did you teach?
Were you ever a victim?
Were you a bully?
I'll bet you were a bully, Bill! I KNOW the type! You fit it to a "T"!
devlin had a myspace page??
to me this is more evidence that it was he and not shawn who left the messages on the guest book, and set up the pages showing shawn's pic
Just wat
ched Oprah. Lots of new information. Shawn left those two messages on the site in the hope they would lead to his discovery. Auntie says that Shawn told her he doesnt want to tell his mother what Devlin did to him as she is so happy now and she has been sad too long. Parents think it likely he has been tortured and sexually abused.Shawn prayed every night that someone would come and rescue him. Very sad but full of hope. Shawn cant wait to start school again and be a normal 15 year old. Really think Bill O Reilly should be made to watch this.
I suspect that Oprah will be providing a substantial amount of help to the Hornbeck family. The counseling and assistance that Shawn needs is not going to be cheap. Part of me can understand doing that one interview given the potential long-term benefits. Neverthless, it can't be good for Shawn to be in the public eye right now. It is probably a cost-benefit analysis by the family that came out on the side of doing the Oprah show.
Steve, I just came ti yur site b/c I have an interest in this case since it happened in my community. Yor coverage isthe best on the web. I am very liberal (so liberal I made a movie about it: www.mrsmithmovie.com), but never took O'Reilly's comments as represnetatives of conservatives. He is just a blow-hard on this issue. No political ideology has the exclusive on compassion; their are good people on all sides. Unfortunately, both sides also have their fair share of stupid blow-hards.
I too am hoping that Oprah (the wealthiest African-American ever, or something like that) has generously compensated the Akers family.
And Charles G. Pfeiffer, if you know of a Devlin myspace, would you please send us the link?
But if you're just making things up to titillate, you need to be "disciplined" yourself!
What is so sad about this discussion is that we have to have it at all. Somewhere along the line it seems that some have forgotten he was taken at gun point, threatened and undoubtedly tortured over the last 4+ years. I'm betting not one of us out here can come close to understanding what this child (and yes he is still a child) has endured. If you have ever suffered major trama or injury you know that the mind and body do what they need to survive. It would be no different for either of these boys.
BOR has proven on more than one occasion that his ego and arrogance are the only factors he considers important. I've never been a fan but this will keep his show and the Fox channel off in my home.
Former FBI profiler Candace DeLong just said on Court TV that O'Rielly should apologize to Shawn and his parents.
Crystal, wtf?
Crystal
If you watched the same Oprah show that I just did....where did you get the idea he didn't want to be home? The Oprah web site even contains a quote from Shawn "It's great to be back home,seeing familiar faces, new ones. It's been great for all of us".
I beg to differ, Crystal. Shawn is overwhelmed and can hardly believe he is not dreaming, but most DEFINITELY is happy---and relieved---and feeling emotions most of us can never understand---to be home.
Crystal- If you are serious in your one line drive-by assesment of Shawn's appearance on O than please elaborate. Otherwise you are a troll. Did you happen to miss the fact that the kid was crying and gripping the police officers very tightly while telling them "Thank You"?! He seems anything but UN-happy to be home. He seems elated, relieved, overwhelmed, and mainly genuinely happy.
The thing I worry with Shawn about is that he seems to be very concerned for his parents and doesn't want them to be sad anymore. It's great that he is still such a sensitive child to even think this way, but I worry that it will keep him from eventually becoming real. By "real" I mean for him to be able to allow himself to one day speak to his parents about everything without worrying so much about how it effects them. It will be a very large part of his healing process to be able to be that open with them and for him to realize that whatever he tells them is nothing in comparison to the hell of him being gone. I have a positive outlook for this family. I think they can truly heal. Never happened for the Stayner's.
Re: Charles Pfeiffer
Uhhh--that ain't Michael Devlin's webpage you were quoting from.
There is more than one heavy-set, tall, bearded gay guy in St. Louis, and apparently there is more than one named Devlin.
The fact the "Daddy bear" Devlin has himself photographed with some fairly elderly looking slaves should tell you this ain't the same guy at all.
All right -- that's NOT DEVLIN'S MYSPACE. The man referred above, the "leather bear," etc. is 5'9". Devlin is 6'4". The man above has a higher degree from Brown, according to his Myspace. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME PERSON. Drop the subject, get it straight. I'll delete any further comments that erroneously reference the MySpace in question. It's a red herring, and I've been telling people all week. The dude is just a gay S & M practitioner and probably not even named "Devlin."
Edited to add: Thank you, Nancy Collins.
Edited By Siteowner
Dont know if anyone posted it but in an interview with oprah Shawns parents admitted that thier son was sexually abused. So its official. They arent sure about torture but figure that at least mentally yes he was.
What Shawn's parents said was that they think it was likely that he was sexually abused but have no proof. It also states that on the advice of a child advocate they haven't asked any questions but hope that at some point he will open up about his experience. Check the Oprah web site, under today's show, Shawn and his parents speak out.
Doesn't anyone here have any concerns about Shawn being on Oprah today? What I saw was a scared, overwhelmed full-of-guilt and shame look on his face as he sat in that audience watching his parents onstage. If I were his mother, he would not have to go through that kind of exposure. I honestly think less of Oprah now for it, because I think she is more concerned with her ratings than in the true welfare of an abused child. I would like to see less media exposure of Shawn and let the poor kid try to put the pieces of his life back together without the entire world watching his every move.
"One thing that I am sure any cop or FBI profiler would say is that the typical pedophile does not need to resort to violence, they find a weakness and exploit it and try to win favor with the victim. "
That isn't true, when it's stranger on stranger violence. "finding a weakness and exploiting it" only is true, for those cases that involve molestation by someone the child knows. It is NEVER true, when someone grabs a kid on the street, and takes them. I am still offended by your stance, but less so than with Bill O'Reilly, who knows damn well, what happens to kids.
Shawns family have very limited resources please help them pay for counseling by making donations to:
The Shawn Hornbeck Care Fund
C/O First Bank
11901 Olive Blvd.,
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
" Otherwise you are a troll. "
Emerson, you took the words right out of my mouth. So good to have you back, girly.
I also questioned how appropriate it was for Shawn to be appearing on TV. I would think he maybe should have complete privacy, and out of the public eye as much as possible, for now at least.
As far as Devlin pleading not guilty, and appearing, I thought, pretty confident about it. I wonder what story he has up his sleeve. I can't help but wonder if Devlin is going to try to pin what happened to Ben on poor Shawn. We shall see.
Ahh Soobs, you're my girl!
I can't help but laugh when BOR claims that the big, bad, scarey, left-wing blogosphere is attacking him. Great crap to hide behind and spin his way away from his own freakin' words. He lied his ass off tonight and needs to be called on it. Someone play the tape back for this delusional turkey neck! Unfortunately he had two pansies on his show today that were too scared and unprepared to take him to task for what he said. Plus, he wouldn't shutup long enough to allow them to speak. Typical.
Just watched Oprah.
Shawn Hornbeck is not happy to be home.
Crystal | 01.18.07 - 5:24 pm | #
So, Crystal, how about we all give Shawn a break, and you take his place? You get it up the butt by Devlin and see how much you like it.
I haven't been able to comment before because I forgot my password. But some of the comments here have made me SICK. Shawn is a child! He's not a baby, but he's still a child! Leave him the hell alone. Devlin probably buried more than one. Shawn did what he needed to do, and he survived. Like Shasta. I haven't seen any comments about Shasta liking it (thank God). Shawn saved his life and in the long run he saved Ben's life too.
Just the fact that Ben was taken against his will and was found with Shawn should tell any reasonable person that Shawn did not run away. What, Shawn left home and four years later decided he wanted a brother, so Michael Devlin just stole him one?
While I haven't owned a television set since 1974, I am tempted to buy one just to boycott O'Reilly. And, I might add, I am not very impressed with Oprah asking if Shawn had been sexually abused on national television. Both of these people are out of line. Oprah giving money to them does not give her the right to re-traumatize Shawn. She was out of line as was O'Reilly.
MotherofFive
(Sweet, I can post again, thanks Steve.)
There's not much new I can bring to this topic except to mention that I sent "NAMBLA O'Reilly" my two cents in an email yesterday. Of course, I haven't heard back. I wish Shawn Hornbeck and his family all the best...that kid has already proved he's a survivor in my book. Oh, and welcome back, Emerson...where the hellyoubeen?
Been around D.P,...been around! Good to be back and "see" friends! What can I say, Steve's addictive, LOL.
O'Reilly is an idiot.
Steve, what happened to your not tolerating trolls? What's with this commentator, "crystal" made up strip-club sounding name with her one-liners about Shawn not being happy to be home. He/she was asked to explain what they meant just in case we misunderstood, and he/she responds with the same one-liner. Troll for sure. I don't mind people I don't agree with. I don't agree with Roberts comments, but he's not a troll, he's taking the time to explain himself. Please get rid of troll, strip-club crystal.
Oh, or maybe "crystal" is Bill O'Reilly. Ha ha. Couldn't resist.
Ok I think what BOR is getting at when he keeps hinting at "Another Headline" is that he believes that Shawn helped abduct Ben or that Shawn abducted Ben. That is why the not guilty plea. What a f**cker! Does he not understand children at all? I thought he was a teacher. Anything Devlin may have coerced Shawn into doing, Shawn is not at fault for. I am waiting for somebody to really sock it to this bastard on live television. Anybody with connections in the media on here. Call in some favors and see what happens.
98% of these scum plead "not guilty." Hell, even Duncan pled not guilty.
I didn't watch O'Reilly tonight. Can't stomach it. And truthfully, I used to like him.
As for "Crystal",maybe it's Crystal Mangum - The Duke Lacrosse Liar? 
Sorry, but I always cringe when I hear BOR categorized as a former "teacher." If I understand correctly, he taught for a couple of years and then moved on. As someone who spent a lifetime teaching, I have seen many people who "drop out" of teaching to pursue another career. IMHO these people are not teachers as it takes more than a couple of years to perfect this job and the number one requirement (IMO) is a love, enjoyment, and understanding of kids with diverse talents, backgrounds, etc. Because of his egocentricity, it seems he might have showcased his SUBJECT matter rather than taught his STUDENTS.
O'Reilly is billed as a conservative. Conservatives have bent over backwards to defend victims. Now O'Reilly is blaming victims.
I question this man's humanity.
Just to let you know. Shawn HAD confirmed that it was him that left the comments on his parents website. He confirmed this on Oprah today. He thought he was giving them hints.
It was also noted that he does not watch the news. So thanfully he does not hear the sick twisted comments from BOR. Shawn says that it sends him into tears/ and anxiety when he watches the news.
Huffington Post article:
http://tinyurl.com/26tl9d
Great summation of the BOR debacle.
Great Link, Emerson.
I may have missed this being posted. if it hasn't, here it is. a youtube of O'Reilly saying these sick things, IMO:
O'Reilly - Kidnapped Child Enjoyed His Circumstances
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g...h?
v=g0_CRFFEvIk
what a nasty piece of work O'Reilly is.
[the quality isn't the most excellent, but it's enough to damn this seemingly NAMBLA supporter.]
Any heartless person who still doubts Shawn's situation, after watching him during the interview with Opera needs to watch where he was introduced to the two policemen. Did you see him silently mouth the words "thank you"? That wasn't for show. That was a private moment thanking the two men who brought him home.
O'Reilly still hasnt apologised and I doubt if he ever will. The guy needs to be dismissed by his employers. I also Oprah crossed the line with some of her questions to Shawn. I dont think he should have been on the show at all. He looked far too traumatised still. Did anyone else notice when he didnt want to answer a question he said - "Dont answert that" rather than 'I dont want to answer that'? It was almost like he was giving himself commands. I really hope the boy gets lots of help soon. Jerks like O'Reilly are not helping matters at all.
I disagree about him not being on Oprah. She has a compassionate crowd at her show and I believe it is important for Shawn to know that he has the support of this whole country to get better. It may help him to see how proud people are of him for hanging on so long...for surviving. Yes it is probably intimidating this media circus, but Oprah come on she has the biggest heart and I don't think she would intentionally hurt him in any way.
EVERYBODY HAS THERE OWN VEIWS ON THIS MATTER INCLUDING CRYSTAL THIS IS A OPEN BLOG AND OPEN OPINIONS QUIT ATTACKING PEOPLE JUST CAUSE YOU HAVE A DIFFRENT OPINION JUST MY OPINION OR IM I NOT ALLOWED IT LOL
It's interesting to me that almost everyone wants Shawn in therapy immediately but we don't want him appearing on national tv, with his parents, with the LE, and with the support of the masses.
He has said he wants to become actively involved in the organization that bears his name to help and educate others on the very thing he's lived through.
To me these things are going to be far more healing than painful therapy sessions behind closed doors with God-knows-who for a therapist.
Oh, and group therapy...don't get me started. I'll just say, be very wary.
Psychiatric counseling has its place in the world, but we've way, way over-therapied a couple of generations now, and no one's much happier for it.
Getting up, out, and involved is exactly how I'd want to see my family and kids coping with such horror.
Wow. For the most part I try hard not to get into flame wars and just refrain from adding anything to an internet discussion because it is virtually impossible to make a point that may disagree with the mindset of the majority, however I keep finding myself wanting to pipe in because I really feel that people are not understanding the point I am trying to make.
What really happened to Shawn Hornbeck is not known, and in my opinion should not be known by anyone other than his therapist and him. Whatever he went through weather there was violence or not, he is NOT TO BLAME, Weather Devlin used a gun or candy to coax Shawn into his truck means nothing. The boy was eleven, and he is still only fifteen now. What ever happened can not really be speculated on and for real, No one can say, "This is how it happened" because we don't know.
My whole point to start with is What O'reilly was saying can and does happen. It is more likely to happen to a child from a chaotic home, And I think that the reason that a lot of people here do not get my point is that they have never been exposed to a life where something like that could happen.
I wondered if there was some truth to the point that O'Reilly made in this case is not the fact that Shawn had the opportunity to flee, it is really because I don't trust that his home life was peachy before he was kidnapped.
His family struck me as slightly shady, and the fact that they are parading him all over TV doesn't sit well with me.
This is a fifteen year old that will have to go back to a normal life, And I hate to say it but when his fifteen minutes are up, and the celebrity wears off, he is going to have to deal with his peer groups knowing that he was abused. And what I know about that is that it is not an easy thing. Kids can be cruel, and he is right in the prime age for that cruelty to really affect him.
I am sort of bothered by the fact that everyone thinks that what I am saying is so wrong. I have not heard anyone who can actually say that they have been through something similar, or even child psychologists speak up, and I bet that if they did, you would find that what I am saying is not so far off.
It is a scary world out there and I think that this just goes to show that children are in more danger than ever and that something really needs to be done to weed out the predators before they act.
Robert you have got to be kidding me. Shady? Have you been to rural Missouri? They are very much like most people there. If they are so shady why have they devoted their lives to not just searching for their son, but other missing children as well. Would shady people do that? Also I had a less than desirable childhood with a drug addicted father and alcoholic mother, but I would not have rather been abused and tortured just so I could play video games all day and not have to attend school. The incidents that you refer to generally happen with older children and they are called Runaways. The last I heard being held at gunpoint is not considered running away A**hole.
One other thing that I wanted to add is that I am not in any way attacking anyone for being pissed at O'Reilly. He is one of the biggest Douchebags I have heard. The only person I hate more than him is Shawn Hannity.
I Did not hear or watch his show, and all I am going on is that I gathered his point to be that Shawn Hornbeck was gone for four years, and he did not alert anyone to his situation when he had many chances to do so, and that is actually not an uncommon situation for a child who has been screwed up so badly that his predicament may not seem so unbearable anymore.
Another thing that I must point out is to not take everything that is being said in interviews that are broadcast around the world at face value. There is denial and guilt that factors in and everything that truly happened will only be known by Shawn and hopefully a good therapist.
Shawn faces a life that none of us can even begin to comprehend and I am worried that while he is lucky to have his life ahead of him, if his family is not careful he will become victimized all over again.
I have watched Bill O'reilly for years and have for the most part agreed with him. His comments about Shawn have made me so mad. Anyone who doesn't understand why Shawn didn't try to get away has never been thru something that horrible. Shawn was 11, that evil man had already proven to Shawn he was capable of snatching him away from his family and his life so who are we to try and second guess Shawn's thoughts. I also think if Devlin is found to be responsible for the other 3 missing children in that area then Shawn did the right thing. Because those other 3 children were NOT in that apt with Shawn and Ben. Shawn did what he had to so that he could one day go home. If Bill O'reilly thinks Shawn choose that life because it was "easy" maybe he is confused about what "easy" is. I'm sure the last 4 years have been anything but easy for Shawn. Not to metion some children love school, sports, and hanging out with their parents. Not every pre teen/teen wants to drop out of school and play games all day. Sorry for rambling on, but I'm mad and this was my only outlet.
yes I have been to rural Missouri. I live right between St. Louis and rural Missouri, and if you have ever been there you would know that it is not known as God's country. Meth and poverty make it just slightly less scary than East St. Louis.
The parents are shady to me becuause they are obviously trying to capitalize on this tragedy. I don't care if you call me names and say that I wouldn't know because I do. I was groomed and raped for two years by a person that used threats as well as reward to screw my mind up so bad that I really honestly thought that he was saving me from something worse.
I was not held at gun point so, no, I don't know what that is like. I am just saying that a pedophile rapist does not have to have a gun to someone's head at all times. At some point the victim accepts his situation and can even come to sympathize with the predator.
The other thing that I want to point out is that this is different on so many levels than a male on female rape. There are so many psychological issues that no one can even comprehend unless they have gone through it.
So it strikes me odd that a bunch of people claiming to be sensitive to what has happened to this kid would get completely shitty to someone who actually can understand some of the things that he went through and will face down the road.
I do apologize Robert but your inital comments did not elude to someone who suffered as you did. I still find your comments odd after having gone through something so horrible yourself though. When I was refering to the area I never called it Gods country. I wanted to say they are simple people, but was afraid to offend someone. Capitalizing my eye. They are proactive in this fight. Don't you wish some one had done that for you?
ROBERT I COULDNT HAVE SAID IT BETTER I AGREE WITH UR VIEWS ON THE FAMILY MATTER IN MY VIEW ITS A LIL FISHY WITH HIS PARENTS ( STEP DAD WHATEVER) EXPOSING HIM ONE WEEK AFTER BEING REUNITED ON NATIONAL TV! SAD TO SAY THE LEAST
They don't strike me as shady at all.
Unsophisticated? Sure.
But that's a far, far cry from shady.
People react to overwhelming situations in highly contrasted ways. I remember after the OKC bombing, the mother of Bailey Almon, the deceased child in the famous photograph with the fireman, opened a diner in her memory. That seemed very goofy to me, and like she was trying to capitalize on Bailey's death. Then, after experiencing a family death myself for the first time, I realized you don't really think clearly. I'd still never open a diner in the name of my loved one as a "memorial," but I can see how someone who isn't all that savvy about such things might think it was a good idea to start something - anything - they perceive as a lasting entity to keep some "life momentum" going on behalf or someone that will never be alive on earth again.
That's how I see Shawn's family. They've been through a whirlwind. They can't believe their good fortune in the face of so much tragedy. On this "high," they no doubt want everyone to experience a similar ending. Oprah Winfrey has probably never called their home. No doubt, she was a very good salesman... "I want to give you an opportunity to, in a very kind and controlled way, explain what you've been through, and help others understand that hope should never be lost."
I can certainly see why they felt it was a good thing to do. They're elated and overwhelmed and riding a wave of adreneline. While I don't know that sophisticated society would consider it kosher, I can see why this family, no doubt bombarded 24/7 by the media at this wild and crazy time, consented to the interview.
Robert...
I live in the Ozarks myself. I have been through something very similar - maybe too similar - to what you describe.
I'm hoping that maybe you're just having a hard time expressing yourself, but I don't think that impugning the character of Shawn's family, who spent years valiantly searching for him as well as for many other children, is appropriate.
A child can be snatched at gunpoint. Michael Devlin did not stop to ask Shawn if he was happy at home before stealing him. I think we all know some of what must have occurred after Shawn was taken.
Yes, a child can bond with his or her abuser. It happens to most of us who have been abused when the perp is someone with power of life and death over us - even adults. Shawn and his family are the victims in this case. Shawn will deal with his issues surrounding his abuse for the rest of his life. The last thing he needs to support his healing is to have nimrods insulting him and maligning his parents.
We all have our traumas. Shawn's is worse than most. Perhaps stepping out of your personal frame of reference would be a good idea where this case is concerned, or perhaps you should discuss your feelings about it with your clinician to find out why it's important to you to blame Shawn's parents here.
We all have our traumas. Shawn's is worse than most. Perhaps stepping out of your personal frame of reference would be a good idea where this case is concerned, or perhaps you should discuss your feelings about it with your clinician to find out why it's important to you to blame Shawn's parents here.
hrh iqwm | 01.19.07 - 11:47 am | #
Thank You for saying that. I already offended him enough I knew that suggestion would offend him more, but I agree that Robert might have unresolved issues of his own to work out. That said I can't see victims balming victims is helpfull at all.
"THIS IS A OPEN BLOG "
Uh, not exactly. This is STEVE'S blog, and he's nice enough to allow us to comment. And, before anyone throws the old "freedom of speech" crap, that only applies to the government. Steve isn't the government. Yet. LOL
In response to rachel j....
Here is what I know based on my own life experiences...
No one can say that what happened to these two boys will never happen to their child, but I know for a fact that my daughter is not being raised as a victim or an easy target. And before anyone jumps on me for saying that, I am not in any way saying Ben or Shawn's parents did that.
However, what I am saying is that the day my daughter was born, my life ended and hers began. It is my only job in life to protect her physically emotionally and mentally. I can not guarantee that she won't ever be victimized but she is not going to be an easy target. Call me cynical but I know that while there are good people in the world, there is an innocence that is gone. Kids used to be able to go out and play in their neighborhood and not have to check in until supper time. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore... School is not safe anymore.
I don't care if you say that I am going to raise a sheltered child, I am not going to raise an easy victim.
Again, I am not saying that Shawn or Ben's parents did that. I was always impressed that Shawn's parents kept his name out there. I am from the area so I can tell you that his picture was all over the place and was until the day he was found.
The problem that I have with his parents is that they have a child who is extremely fragile right now. He does not need to be talking to Oprah. There is nothing at all she can do to help him. The other thing that I don't like is that by having him out there talking about the situation, they could be damaging the case against Devlin.
I really honestly believe that Shawn will only be hurt worse in the long run by the publicity. Everyone knows his name and face, and everyone knows what more than likely happened to him.
He is going to have to go back to a small town with a small town mentality, and if I were his parents,I would be sheltering him in anyway I could.
Everyone needs to understand that the damage is far from done for him. Appearing on Oprah is only serving the parents. It will not help Shawn at all.
Also Rachel, I am not offended. I just don't see calling names as helpful, and I understand what prompted your post.
As far as still having unresolved issues, that is exactly the point I am trying to make, I was thirteen when the abuse stopped. I am Thirty years old now. I still pay for the damage that was caused. And to this day I am still in therapy to deal with it. So I am not saying that Shawn will turn out to become me, I am just saying that I understand from my own experiences that if he is not treated in the most careful way by those around him, he has the potential to have his whole life ruined.
Yes I feel strongly and It is personal to me, but I don't think that means that I am wrong in being skeptical about the "facts" that are being put out by vultures in the media. No one can say that they are putting information out there to help anyone because there is no information to give. They are doing it for ratings or for monetary gain, and it bothers me.
Just read an interview with Shawns parents on the Time magazine website. Craig Akers was asked about Bill O'Reillys comments and Craig stated that he was furious with him.
LONG-ASS COMMENT ALERT
Robert,
I appreciate what you're saying about raising children not to be victims. I understand you're not saying that the parents in this case did so. Those of us who have a reference that causes us to be extra-alert tend to overprotect our kids, and I don't have a problem with that.
But I respectfully disagree with you regarding the Akers family and Oprah.
Actually, I don't watch Oprah much. But I did catch this, and I think that she and Shawn's parents handled him gently and carefully. He answered only the questions he wanted to. He spoke with Oprah off-camera on sensitive issues. I think it was well handled, and I think Oprah was particularly cognizant of his still-dissociated state and didn't push him.
I don't know that I would have decided to go on Oprah with my child in a similar case. But I can see why the Akers would. Their phones are ringing off the hook, idiots like Bill O'Reilly are essentially stating that Shawn "liked it", and the evidence is becoming disturbingly clear that more than just your basic sexual abuse occurred. Speculation in the media about Shawn is running rampant. He deserves a chance to speak if he wants to.
Everyone knows what happened to Shawn, and that is unfortunate, but it's reality. Giving Shawn a chance to tell some of his story - and only some of it - was probably an okay thing for his parents to do. So far, they have been very careful to let Shawn decide whether he wants to talk. Apparently he was cool with this, and it's not our place to judge that.
Shawn's affect is still very flat. He's still dissociated, still shocky, and still more than a little freaked out - but he appears capable of telling his family what is right for him, it seems, and they seem to be honoring that. I'd much rather have my child interviewed by a fellow abuse survivor, as Oprah is, than by, say, Bill O'Reilly.
As to evidence, nothing was said on Oprah that would compromise the case against Michael Devlin. Devlin's going to have a hard time finding a jury in any event, and the truth is not a bad thing to tell. Shawn and other abused children can heal best when there is no shame, no stigma attached to their pain. I don't advertise my life story. I don't identify myself as a victim or as a survivor. I stopped therapy when it seemed to be prolonging rather than fixing my issues. And you know what? I'm not ashamed anymore, because what happened to me is not who I am. Shawn will get there, with love and trust and a safe place to be. But his actions and reactions until that time can't be judged by anyone but himself. I'm proud of his strength, his courage, and his survival. Whatever decisions he makes, I hope he and his family continue to find support rather than criticism.
Robert, so you know I have 6 children. My oldest is a 15 year old girl so I respect what you are saying about not raising your child to be a victim, but you need to know that each child is different. Their capacity to handle stress,and anything else that comes their way. As a parent I must notice these behaviors in my children and act accordingly. I don't think for one second his parents or Oprah would have had him on if HE did not feel comfortable about it. For some it does help to let it out to make it known to make it real. For others it is the opposite. Don't judge these people if you know what true misery and sorrow are. That is not a good way to help in your own healing process. It's like with AA one thing they must do to recover is help others. It has proven to be a succesfull way of helping people heal.
I FEEL REAL BAD FOR SHAWN HOPEFULLY HE CAN HEAL IN PEACE WITHOUT THE MONEY HUNGRY MEDIA HOUNDS !
hrh iqwm,
Thank you for taking the time to post the long ass comment. You are right on a lot of this. And the one thing that I should clear up is that I am not saying that I know anything at all about Shawn's family or their motivation.
I disagree with the idea of putting Shawn out there for interviews this early though. Your point about him seeming shocky and freaked out is a good example of why I disagree with the families' decision. He has not had time to decompress, or to really think about how life will be. In the first post that I made I commented that if it were my child in the same situation, I would move away from the area at least, and try to give the kid a fresh start.
I fear the small town mentality, and I know for a fact that there will be people in his school that are jealous of the attention that he has received and the fact that he was victimized by a man will be the source of some form of small town high-school cruelty.
That can't be avoided, but I found it hard to swallow the fact that his parents didn't tell the media to piss off and give them privacy. The more he goes in front of the media, the harder it will be for Shawn to settle in. It is chaos, and someone had mentioned Dr. Drew earlier and that was something that he harped on a lot. A chaotic environment is poison to children. He needs structure and shelter in order to heal properly, and while he is not going to be healed tomorrow, he spent the last four years in a chaos that is hard to even imagine. I, as a parent would not want to expose my child to anything that might prolong that.
It just goes against common sense to me. There is a reason you don't see the names of rape victims or victims of pedophiles printed. Obviously his name is everywhere, and that is all the more reason I would think that as a parent you would work even harder to shun more publicity.
As the aunt of two children adopted from foreign countries I have to add this comment. One was adopted as an infant and one as a 20 month old toddler. The toddler arrived with scars from being tied to chairs while living in the orphange. When told to sit, the child never moved. Not a shift of a hand or leg. Not a movement at all until you allowed it. It took years living in a warm, caring, loving home before the child felt secure enough to be able to move.
My point in telling this is that if a 20 month old child can learn from abuse that when told to sit and not move you must sit and not move then why is it so hard to imagine that Shawn had fear which kept him where he was? Shawn was 11 and threatened with a gun and who knows what other types of abuse. It is really sad that there still seems to be a group of people that feel it is okay to judge Shawn. None of us have that right. He was taken as a child and is still a child. Shawn and his family do not deserve to be dragged through the mud because some people can't understand his not fleeing.
If the world was a perfect place where people weren't threatened, hurt, abused more often than not I guess you could wonder. However this world is not perfect and until and if we ever get the chance to know the real story all of this blaming of Shawn and his family is unfortunate. Devlin is the one responsible. He took the child and kept him. No other reason should be needed.
I've never posted before so please be gentle 
I have to say reading Roberts comments gives me the same feeling as reading/hearing Bill O'Reilly. Robert, you've explained yourself, and that was appreciated. But it comes down to this - you think Shawn's parents are "shady" and don't have his best interest at heart so you post here and put that out there to be read. You back it up with what you believe to be evidence for your opinion. And while everyone is entitled to their opinions (even Mr. O'Reilly can have his) Shawn and his family don't need to HEAR or READ those opinions right now.
Even if they never read your comment? Someone else will. The general tone will be passed along. And really, what if you are wrong about his family? You said yourself, we DON'T know all the facts. But neither do you. And it just seems like if you or Bill O'Reilly or anyone else have anything negative to say about Shawn or his parents that maybe it should wait until a later time.
Yes, you have a "right" to say whatever you want. But why can't anyone who thinks the worst about the Hornbecks just keep it inside for a while? I mean, honestly, even if you did turn out to be right, what good is that? You get to say, "I told you so"?
I'm just not understanding the need of some people to speak ill of this family or this child. Think what you want but just be decent and in the off chance that you're wrong you'll be saving them and others a little bit of grief they don't need right now.
The family heard O'Reilly and they are all pissed off about it (including Shawn):
"Can you really be that simple-minded?" Shawn's stepfather, Craig Akers, said in an interview with TIME late Thursday evening.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/
...1580563,00.html
It is obvious that there is alot of dissagreement here, but I will stick with live and let live. If this works for them that is all that matters. The world is a different place than it was when you went through your ordeal. Therapy does not fix everything and like I said before some people find it helpfull to get it out and make it real. The timing of that is completly up to Shawn and his parents
Stacie,
Thank you for your comments. I will say right off the bat that I am sorry for saying that the parents seemed shady... That was a horrible choice of words. I am just saying that what ever their motivation is by letting Shawn go on national television does not sit well with me. I am not worried about being wrong or right, I am worried that people really do not comprehend the damage that has been done to this kid, and while he looks OK and may say he is OK, it has only been a week since he was found! He has not even started to heal. While I agree that it was better that they were on Oprah than O'Reilly, and I agree that she handled the interview with class, the interview served no purpose. Oprah may have been a victim herself, but had the interview been a truly altruistic gesture, she would not have televised the interview. It was for ratings plain and simple.
I guess what really has me upset is that I can relate and sympathize with Shawn and the idea of him being taken advantage of in any way by anyone after all he has been through really gives me a sick feeling, and I guess that I am shocked that his parents are not aggressively protecting him from that.
Robert:
No doubt you were the victim of a maipualtive groomer-type pedophile. And i know that those types of pedophiels tend to zero in on kids with crappy, nelgectful parents, which you no doubt had--ones unable/unwilling to protect their children from harm. God knows the world's full of them. However, you need to realize that all same-sex molestation isn.'t exactly the same as what you experienced.
Stranger abduction of a minor child for sexual purposes is considerably different from that of the guy down the street who spends months, if not years trying to get into a little boy's Underoos. Guys who snatch kids do so laregely because they don't have the social skills or patience for such a lengthy "seduction". That doesn't mean they can't emotionally manipualte the child once they get their hands on him--they just don't have the means of doing that without raising a lot of suspicion beforehand.
From what I've read so far, Devlin comes across as a far more scary version of "The Comic Book Guy" in The Simpsons. Between his rather off-putting behavior and phsyical size, he simply didn't have what it takes to get what he wanted without having to literally steal it off the street.
No doubt Devlin did tell his victim that his parents wouldn't want him back because he was ruined goods/queer and all kinds of crap, on top of the phsyical threats. But you shouldn't superimpose your own family homelife on top of every sexually abused child, as that is often not the case. And it certainly isn't the case here.
P.S. Forgive my typing in above comment as
1) the type is too small for me, personally and
2) my office is cold and my fingers are getting somewhat chilly/numb.
There is so much wrong with this society; I can't see how anyone can find any fault at all in how Shawn or his parents are behaving.
I have a feeling though, that if they had quickly retreated into their home, pulled the shades, stopped answering the phone, and whisked him off to a hospital for therapy, the same people would be demanding that they answer some questions!
I'm thinking that the "old way" of coping with these kind of crimes, where it's NEVER discussed, or ONLY in whispered, embarrassed tones, and NO one is allowed to talk about it, is part of why this abuse is so prevalent today. Generations upon generations of children have endured all kinds of abuse, usually at the hand of someone they know, silently because the SHAME the SHAME!
Thank God Shawn is here to tell his story!! If his bravery & willingness to be PROACTIVE about this were to save just ONE child from the hands of a predator, won't it be worth it?
Most of the time when an abducted child is found, it's just the body. We don't know how a survivor like Shawn "should" behave!! Or his family!!
Hell yeah, they are CELEBRATING! Wouldn't you?
Everyone assumes he is now very damaged, but we don't exactly know that.
Hearing what BOR & all you vultures are saying, insulting him & his family, second-guessing them like you KNOW WHATS GOING ON, that in its own way might be more damaging than being sexually assaulted.
Words hurt.
According to the Post Dispatch, the Hornbecks received no money for appearing on Oprah.
I'm thinking that the "old way" of coping with these kind of crimes, where it's NEVER discussed, or ONLY in whispered, embarrassed tones, and NO one is allowed to talk about it, is part of why this abuse is so prevalent today.
I have to say I agree here. Maybe just maybe him seeing that he is not judged and knowing that people are proud of him for doing what he had to to survive will help him to heal. Who knows other children may learn a lot from Shawn and his experience as it is such a rare thing. Children need to see survivors.
I understand how many may think it was wrong for Shawn's parents to "let" him talk to Oprah. However, I think it would be much more damaging to say to him "Don't talk to anyone about this." Shawn is a victim. To make him feel like he should hide out would cause even more damage. I don't think they forced him to do the interview. They offered, if he wanted and he wanted to. I think the best thing they could do for him was to allow him to say what he wanted. Everyone is different. While some children may not have been comfortable so soon, Shawn obviously was. Shawn should not be ashamed of his situation. He should celebrate coming home, be celebrated for being so strong and able to make it through such an ordeal, if thats what he chooses. Also, he spent four years being mentally controlled. For his parents to make all the choices for a 15 year old boy would be wrong. He's nearly an adult, and while his parents need to be parents, they are also giving him the freedom to speak up, something he has missed out on for so long.
bgreen, I'm sure that's true, that the Akers and Shawn didn't get paid. Most such shows do not pay anything but expenses -- your flight, a hotel, and a (typically small) per diem for meals.
Robert, I wanted to add my agreement with what Nancy Collins wrote, and give you a word to Google: "mysoped."
The sneaky, grooming type of pedophile is insidious, and rarely spotted right away. Mysopeds (Joseph Edward Duncan III may have been one) are a different animal altogether, and I'd imagine that Michael Devlin, if guilty, may have been much more this kind of monster.
Read up on them, but don't do it at night. They are the monsters among monsters.
More Fox and BOR haters.I just wander areyou going to attack everyone in the media who saids things you dont like or will it be just fox and bor?
PHIL...do you work for Fox or Bill? LOL Why are you so invested in what's being said?
Now see Soobs you had to out me.Expect a visit from The fox people tonight.
i am just kidding
LOL, I'll have you know, that Fox is nearly the only channel I watch for news. I love it. I'm not a big fan of mouths that can't or won't apologize, however. (I'll be waiting for them.
I will pass that along.A signed free copy of whose looking out for you is in the mail.And yes we know your address.lol
I don't think it is true that O'Reilley's ratings will go up. The sad fact is that most people don't care whether he apologises or not. I always watch his show. I watched it tonight. He backed down somewhat, but he never even came close to anything like an apology. I would like to hear him apologise for referring to Shawn as 'that guy'. That is what really offended me the most. My granddaughter was a victim of a pedophile. It has taken her years to adjust, and even now, after much therapy, still thinks she should have told someone and gotten out of the situation, and at first she even blamed herself for causing the situation. I think it is very possible that Shawn saw (or at least heard from Devlin) another child being murdered. Ben might have been silenced later by seeing Shawn murdered. O'Reilley said he was a teacher of teen-agers. Did he teach 11 year olds though? Comparing a normal teen-ager in school to a 15 year old who has been held captive for 4 years is totally unrealistic. I will still watch Fox news, but I also watch MSNBC. I will probably have tongue in cheek though watching O'Reilley. I watch Tucker on MSNBC more than O'Reilley now anyway. I use the time O'Reilley is on to do the dishes and clean the kitchen. On some things I used to get angry with him a lot, but this, for me went way beyond just disagreeing with something. I always believed he was a child advocate. One thing that struck me that Shawn said on Oprah was a very small thing about Ben. He said he was grateful that Ben's kidnapping brought about his own rescue, but that he was sorry that Ben had to go through what he did. These are not his exact words, but that is basically what he said. That tells me that even in those 4 days Ben suffered. Remember Stephen Steiner? He was recruited to even help lure young boys to his captor. Shawn, like Stephen, was a normal happy child before this happened to him. I really hope and pray that everyone involved learned something from Stephen's case. He will need lots of therapy. He learned more than he ever should have learned. He lost his innocence. He lost his childhood. After the honeymoon period of the family reunion, without proper counselling, he will rebel against authority. O'Reilley will love that. It will be, "I told you so." We all need to pray for him and for his parents. They have a really tough road to travel.
P? Is that u Crystal? Take a chill pill, LOL. We don't like trolls and trolls have no opinions, just one-liners to get a rise out of people. Most of us may not agree with someone like Robert, but he's not a troll and I do read his comments though I'm not crazy about them. We r talking about trolls, not opinions, comprehend? Or do we need to explain the difference again.
oh please explain again
whos Crystal??
This is my first time to post anything though I visit this site all the time. I enjoyed reading everyones post also. I to have also followed this story completely. I am a huge new buff and get attached to certain stories. So here goes on my comments with everything being said. I am very sorry for the Hornbeck/Akers family. I couldn't imagine that happening to my little girl or boy. I agree with just about all of you on here. I hate O'Reilly, even before this. I hate his attitude on certain things. I also believe Shawn was taken against his will. I also know he was probably terrified as was said as to why he didn't run for help. I understand what Robert is trying to say to, not because of something like this happening to me, but because all these people and psychologists you see on tv are saying "Stockholmes Syndrome" and that of the sort include the victim creating some sort of bond with the abducter. I am no expert and I don't understand any of it but I have heard this from the day they found both of the boys. I don't think Shawn enjoyed staying there. I believe Ben was just as scared as Shawn because he was there for 4 days with the same computer access and phone access which no one has even commented about. He obviously wasn't locked in a room seeing as how when the cops busted in they were sitting on a couch together. Ben could have easily got help just as some people are looking down on Shawn for not doing. But they were both scared. I dont agree with what some are saying about Oprah and looking down on her. She didn't MAKE Shawn and his family come on her show. She went by their rules and what not to ask. For all we know they picked out certain people they would allow to interview them and she was one and they called her. Not likely but possible. But I have noticed only certain medie people are getting interviews with them. But I respect Oprah for honoring their wishes on what to talk about and not what to talk about. I also heard Shawn say he wanted to be there to reach out to other people. I think it was good for him to see he has support from people around the world and not just criticism, which I am sure he has heard more or than anything, seeing as how that is alot of what is being said. I also think it is weird when people post comments on here saying how wrong it is, how wrong his parents are, how wrong Oprah is, when all of on this blog and site are here to keep getting information, who probably turn the tv up when something about it comes on, and use every search engine possible to find anything about any of the people involved in this story, and waited for Oprah to come on to see what he has to say. That is kinda hypocritical to me to put them down for doing so but hanging on to everyword. But anyway, like I said I am new to this blog and I know everyone dont agree with everything everyone says so take is easy on me..lol. I enjoy reading everything you guys have to say and getting all the latest on the case. And keep up the good work Steve...
FAITH, IM PATTY THE ONE THAT SAID TAKE A CHILL PILL DO U COMPREHEND
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