shawn hornbeck

shawn hornbeck- October 6, 2002, Sunday, while out riding his bike, he vanished without a trace not far from his Richwoods, Missouri home. An intensive search was mounted by federal, state and local authorities, but there were no clues as to what may have happened to him.

Shawn Hornbeck, aged 11, on October 6, 2002, disappeared while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. He was missing for over four years. His parents, along with family and friends announced their intentions to form a private organization to continue the search for Shawn.

The response was overwhelming, as thousands of volunteers responded to their pleas for help over the next several months. But still no clues were found. But his parents still never gave up and continued searching.They put pictures on billboards, and in every store and gas station. Countless family and friends put their lives on hold and helped look for Shawn Hornbeck and other missing children.

On Friday, January 12, 2007, the police are searching for a recently missing 13-year-old boy, Ben Ownby, aided by a tip from Mitchell Hults, both from Union, Missouri. Hornbeck and Ownby were both found in the apartment of Michael J. Devlin in Kirkwood, Missouri.

Shawn Hornbeck was finally reunited with his family after nearly four and one-half years of captivity. As of June of 2007, Devlin has been charged with 80 counts in the abductions and molestation of Hornbeck and Ownby. On October 8, 2007, Devlin pleaded guilty of all charges filed against him and was sentenced to life imprisonment.