Kidnapped

Shawn Hornbeck's Incredible Story

(CBS)  This episode was originally broadcast on Sept. 24, 2008. It was updated on June 16, 2009.

On Oct. 6, 2002, 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck wanted to ride his bike to a friend's house - something his parents say he had done many times before. But this bike ride would end very differently than all others: when Shawn turned down a gravel road, he had no idea he was heading straight into the grip of a dangerous kidnapper.

Kidnapped and held for four and a half years, Shawn tells his amazing story of survival to correspondent Troy Roberts.

---

Hours after Shawn disappeared, sheriff's deputies, police and volunteers were combing the rough terrain around his hometown of Richwoods, Mo.

But aside from dogs detecting Shawn's scent, nothing else turned up - not even his bike.

As days turned to weeks, Shawn's mother Pam and stepfather Craig Akers put on a brave face for reporters, but privately they were falling apart.

"Nighttime was about the only time where we really did have the opportunity to talk honestly about things and share our emotions and that was probably the roughest times - you're sitting there alone and, just trying to figure out what happened to your son," Craig remembers.

Pam and Craig couldn't help but feel guilty for letting Shawn go out alone that day. And Pam says at times she does blame herself. "I do feel that I failed on the part of protecting him. And keeping him safe and keeping him at home."

"I feel the same way," Craig adds. "I'd just go over in my mind all the different things we could have done that day."

But Shawn had taken that ride dozens of times before.

Shawn and his two older sisters, Jackie and Jennifer, had grown up in the quiet Midwestern town, just 60 miles from St. Louis.

When he was 6, Shawn had walked his mother down the aisle when she married Craig.

And even though Shawn wasn't Craig's biological son, they shared a special bond. "He was always known as my shadow. He grew up sitting on my lap in front of the keyboard. We spent pretty much every minute of every day together," Craig remembers.

When the official search for their son was scaled back, the Akers kept looking. "We cashed in my 401(k). Every penny that we had ever saved went into the search for Shawn," Craig says.

They formed the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation, and set up an e-mail tip line.

Working for the county prosecutor, retired St. Louis Detective Don Cooksey investigated over 400 leads. "I searched strip mines; I searched caves, river ways, abandoned farms, abandoned trailers, cemeteries. Lakes, I've drained lakes," he remembers. "About a year into the investigation, maybe a year and a half, I didn't think we'd ever find him alive."

One year gave way to two, then three, and four.

What the Akers didn't know was that less than an hour from home, Shawn was being held captive by a man police would later call a monster.

Shawn was living his days in terror. "I'm not gonna lie, there was times when it seemed like I was better off dead than living through that," he tells Roberts.

Shawn was subjected to unimaginable daily physical and sexual abuse. "From day one, he had the gun, he had the power. I was powerless. There's nothing I could physically do," he explains.

Asked if the days seemed to blend in with each other, Shawn says, "Yeah, there was times that I thought it was July and it was snowing outside. I just, I didn’t keep track of time or day. It was just another day. It was just another day to add to my life."

Then, on a cold winter's morning in January 2007, Pam and Craig woke up to a TV news report about an abduction in a nearby town. "It really kind of struck me as eerily similar," Craig says.

"The hair color, the size, the age," Pam adds.

Was it just an eerie coincidence or something more?

[gonecountry3-2009]

Shawn, as a survivor of kidnapping and rape, although nothing to the extreme of your situation, I just want you to know, it was never ever your fault. Don''t let anyone question why you did what you did, they don''t have a clue what its like. I watched my best friend get shot in the head, and live! But yet I got questioned why it wasn''t me and just her. You are a miracle, and thank God you''re here and alive! You do what you need to, to get through it all, and let your parents love and hug you every day. Be youself!

[regi224-2009]

To Shawn Hornbeck,
No one has a right to question you regarding your terrible ordeal. They should be thankful that you are here. I am sure that words could not express or that one can imagine what you experienced. Suffice to say, that when and if you want to talk..you will. If not that is fine too.
I thank the Lord that you were returned safely. (I think of my own grandson.)
God bless you and your family. I wish you the best! You will accomplish everything that you desire. You have (already)proven that you are a determined and strong young man!

[camcon5]

Shawn, as a fellow Washington County resident, I have to tell you how proud I am of you. I am so happy that you had the will to survive your horrible ordeal. I don''t think that there was a dry eye in our county the night they found you. For four years, everyone in our small town thought of you and remembered you when we would look at your "missing" posters. You have turned into a wonderful young man. I know that you will continue to help others that have been in your situation. Don''t ever second guess yourself. None of us know what you went through and we will never be able to judge you. Hold your head up high and continue to be the remarkable young man that you have become. Your life is destined for great things!

[stllms]

Shawn, What a wonderful young man it appears you have become. Instead of allowing this experience to define who you are, thus continuing to give Michael Devlin the power to control you, you seem to have decided to use this experience to make you a stronger person. I find it inspirational that you are willing to share your story so that others might be able to protect themselves. I am so sorry that this happened to you, but you should know that because of you, others will be safer. As my sister has done,
I encourage all parents to talk with their children and create fictious names that the child can used to contact their family via the internet, should a situation arise. Again, thank you for your strengh and courage. Be happy and enjoy your Prom.

[geek_grrl]

What an amazing young man. God bless you and your family for continuing to get though this ordeal. You probably don''t feel like one, but you are a hero as well as a survivor.

[caseys1515]

These days it is very difficult to find people to truly look up to and admire. Well, Shawn its very easy to do with you. I cant even begin to say how happy I am for both you and your family. I hope you continue to enjoy every minute of every day of your life. You certainly deserve an enormous amount of happiness. Thank you for sharing your story. It warms my heart to see you enjoying your life, and being back with your family. You are a true inspiration and an absolutely amazing young man.

[mjejk]

I remember this case from when I lived in STL and the reporting for this episode is not correct. There were many other people who reported their suspicions regarding "The Devil" Devlin. I HATE watching this kind of stuff knowing I am being lied to or deceived by the network.

[apegirlz]

to shawn hornbeck;i want to say to you that you are a very brave young man.i understand the fear,as i myself was also on two separate times,nearly abducted as a little girl, as well as my own daughter,she was just 6 months at the time,it only takes just less thenone minute.but lucky for me and my little girl i kept alert and watchful and loving and protective of her.my parents,rescued me.they saw a strange man near me watching me and acting suspious.they scared him away from me. but with my own child i observed the same man earlier,it seemed so strange to me that he would be so close by every-where i went.i looked at him and recognized him as he was seen by me earlier as the same man who almost took another woman;s small child she was almost taken out of the walmart store i was in.i some-how got her away from him, he was trying to carry her out to his waiting van outside, i had to physically grab her and put her with me and wait for store security to get her and her mother,who was looking for her.she was just a small baby girl of just one years old.so you see i understand,even if i was,nt actually held like you were ,i can still relate to the fear of parents , who go through pain when their own child goes missing. please parents who are reading this ,be aware be safe, its not just our children its us too. it can happen to any-one at any time day or night.

[janierene]

I hope you don''t mind me askin Mrs. Hornback, But could you plez tell me the name of that CD you said you played over and over in your car while your son was gone? Something about An Angel. Thank you. Also I''m so glad your family is 2gether again! I will keep u in my prayers!!

[kendalr40]

It was "Calling All Angels" by the band TRAIN.

[tyleroses]

Thank you so much for sharing with us your ordeal, Shawn.
Americans love you! We are All proud of you! You''ve done it, can do it, will continue to do it. You will continue to heal, though perhaps slower than you''d like. Continue living your life to the fullest, making your dreams come true. You are stronger than you know, and braver than most of us.
May God grant you every joy, every blessing, and every benefit. May you be deeply loved and appreciated.
Keep working, keep learning and growing. You are so smart!
Thanks to CBS for presenting your story in a way that respects you and your privacy.
Words are nice, but please know that our family is here for you and yours if there is ever a need.
Bravo,
Barbara J. Tyler

[stlcopper]

Ok, I want to know why the two Kirkwood officers were completely passed over for this story. The pizza manager alerted KPD. The two officers trying to serve the warrant happened upon the truck and THEY alerted the FBI. THEY are the ones that sat out there all night long watching the apartment until their shift ended. Other Kirkwood officers took up the watch after 2am until the FBI finaly arrived the NEXT day.. ***??? How can you leave those two out? That is just wrong wrong wrong CBS. Come on. We are all so happy for the outcome, but to just pass them over is not right. As one of them said though, they know what REALLY happened and that is all that matters..

[minicooper70]

After watching this, there is a higher being. This man is the Devil! I don''t know how Shawn endured these 4 years with this monster. I did not know that Devlin tried to kill him and made Shawn beg for his life, then all the abuse! Then 4 years later he snatched another one? UGH. Hopefully for one moment Shawn can forget this horrible incident, if just for one moment.

[monique0123]

To stlcopper: Those of us who read stories from several different news outlets when Shawn and Ben were found know of the wonderful job the KPD did in surveilling Devlin''s apartment before he was arrested. Why CBS left this critical fact out of an hour-long story is odd. To Shawn: I wish you the very best in life. Had you not convinced Devlin to keep you alive, he most certainly would have gone on to kill you and kidnap, abuse, and kill other boys. Even though unwilling, you took the abuse others would certainly have suffered. What a life this is that a boy (or girl) can''t ride his (her) bike alone without fearing abduction. As for Devlin, he is pure evil, and if other inmates want to get him and teach him a lesson, they will find a way. I pray for you and Ben and your families that you continue to put this behind you and lead peaceful and fulfilling lives from here on out.

[porchwatcher]

It sends shivers down my spine to know that Devlin also worked at a funeral home. If he had access to a crematory.....there is no telling where Shawn could have ended up...and I wonder if any other victims "aged out" that way?

[lperolio]

This horrifying story is every parent''s worst nightmare. As parent to a 13-year old boy, I was particularly moved by Shawn''s story - plus the fact I grew up in the St Louis area and this just hits too close to home. Shawn - you are mature and brave way beyond your years. One cannot express how your bravery and strength has touched all of us. We can only hope our sons grow up to be as strong as you have. God bless you and your family!

[dsimpson1966]

To those who searched hours, weeks, months, years, THANK YOU!!! But to those who reported the story, you left out some critical information. There was another circumstance that led the KPD to be in the right place at the right time. The neighbors near "the DEVILS" apartment noticed the white truck & informed the KPD. I give special thanks to the people who were left out of the story. We in StL & surrounding areas haven''t forgotten.

[grantview]

To those of you who refer to Michael Devlin as a monster, the devil, etc. you are not helping anyone. Michael Devlin''s actions and behaviors are certainly reprehensible, but as a human being he is capable of redemption. He should stay locked up though. I work with offenders some of whom are sexual offenders. I''ve never felt that way about any person, but I condemn what they have done.

Most of the time these offenders were screwed over when they were young. I don''t believe monsters are born; they are created. Watching the TV show Most Evil provides insight.

From what I''ve read about Michael Devlin, he had a pretty typical uneventful childhood. Though, I admit, I do not all the details. In which case, what led Michael Devlin to do what he did? I believe the answer is rampant pornography. We need to put the brakes on today''s over-sexualized culture for sake of children and families.

[dssteiger]

That may be the most ignorant thing I have ever read. This guy is a monster and deserves to die for his crimes against these innocent boys. Blaming pornography for his actions is ridiculous. He is a sick demented monster that is a total waste of oxygen. There is no helping him, but there may be help for you with years of therapy because I shudder to think what this world would be like if there are others that think the same way you do.

[nlm2383]

To those of you who refer to Michael Devlin as a monster, the devil, etc. you are not helping anyone. Michael Devlin''''s actions and behaviors are certainly reprehensible, but as a human being he is capable of redemption.

Posted by grantview at 12:55 PM : Sep 30, 2008

You have your opinion, I have mine. I completely disagree. He is a monster, redemption for someone like him shouldn''t even be an option. He deserves to rot in hell for what he did to those poor children. Saying he did what he did because of "rampant pornography" is just like giving him an excuse and saying if he wasn''t (supposedly) given the option to have access to porn that he wouldnt have done this. People are sick and disgusting and he just happens to be one of them. You''re not helping anyone by making excuses for MONSTERS like him...

[grantview]

Undeniably, Michael Devlin chose to look at pornography and chose to abuse Shawn and Ben. For this, he must take responsibility for his actions and society must be protected. However, I am Christian. God is willing to forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us. (It is in the Our Father.) So, if you are unwilling to be forgiven for your sins, then go ahead and tell others they deserve to rot in hell. I also know from working with offenders and seeing other stories on television that other so called "monsters" have turned their lives around.

I am not making excuses for him as much as I am pointing out that pornography fuels deviant sexual behavior and devalues human beings. Something common to *** offenders is pornography. It is not just a coincidence that graphic pornography and child sexual abuse have both risen since the 1960s.

[traffic101]

You have a good point on pornography.

[g_young]

We can argue on how we think that Michael is a "monster" or not.. but thats totally besides the point here!! I am very much a christian too but i also believe that this guy should rot in hell for all eternity! Just think what if that was your kids would you feel the same way about redemption? You would like to see him in the checkout right next to you in Wal-Mart a free man because he got "redeemed?" Its so easy to sit back and judge when its not you family that is being harmed.

[graceforyou]

To Shawn and Ben - As a mom, my heart is joyful that you are home with your family. As time unfolds, I pray that you will live a beautiful life. I don't usually comment on stories, but your story touched me and my family. I cannot imagine what you have endured, but you are now an example of strength, fortitude, and the will to survive. I believe that God has a special purpose for you whether it be in the public eye or to make a difference in one person's life. You are special. From one survivor (cancer) to survivors of something exponentially worse, you are special. Don't ever blame yourself. Look to the future of your family and friends.

[ronkerr]

To PinkieSparkles16 - I still can't believe that you posted that comment. Are you kidding me? You really believe that a game system or a new bike would make getting raped and tortured by a 300 lb pervert worth it? We can only speculate on what really happened to him behind those closed doors or what lies Devlin told him but to sit there behind your computer and judge this young man is so way out of line. Shawn seems to be an amazing person who will hopefully grow up and do wonderful things with his life.

[graceforyou]

I have thought about the recorded program. I am dissapointed that CBS elected to include the "spoiled" statement by the neighbors. Receiving a bike and game system is hardly being spoiled. Who knows why those were purchased. If the neighbors thought he looked like the missing Shawn, why didn't they call the authorities?

Unless we have been a victim in the circumstance of captivity since age 10, we would never know what we would do or believe to survive. I can only imagine the pure joy Shawn must have felt to be away from his captor when he was allowed to spend the night. One night away from torture.

As for God, hopefully there is a spiritual being a greater power, that gives our life meaning and purpose.

I pity those without compassion and the need to blame a child of 10 for being a victim.

[stickdog3]

I followed this in the news when it happened, and the first time it aired on 48 Hours Mystery last year. He (Shawn)himself said no one has the right to judge him. Theres a reason for him saying that. He's probably hearing it a lot.Nobody wants to play devil's advocate, but it sits in the back of your mind. The first day this clown went to work and left him there unrestrained, why didn't he leave? Thats the million dollar question. It will be answered, probably 20 to 30 years in the future, but, it will be answered. Thats why the neighbors who befriended him are still asking. Being traumatized is one thing, but in every human the will to survive is very pronounced. I would love to know why this boy didn't run when he had hundreds of chances. Like I said this question will be answered, he will finally tell. Hope this doesn't psychologicallly permanently scar him. Very tragic story indeed.

[mswolfestock]

Shawn, I think you have more courage than a platoon of Marines. It takes courage and guts to triumph over horrible, painful adversity, and you are doing it. God Bless you and your family.