Kidnapped Missouri Teenager recounts 4-year ordeal

[MindCrime]

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 25) - A Missouri teenager who was kidnapped and held for four years said he figured his days were numbered when his abductor decided to take another boy, according to transcripts from a television interview released Wednesday to The Associated Press.

Shawn Hornbeck, now 17, and his parents recounted their story during an interview with CBS News' "48 Hours Mystery," in which he discusses details of his captivity for the first time.

The days got slimmer," he said. "'Cause it's a replacement. When you get a new car, what do you do with the old one? You usually get rid of it, right?"

Shawn was 11 when he was kidnapped by Michael Devlin in 2002 near his home in Washington County, Mo. He and Ben Ownby, another kidnapped boy, were found in the suburban St. Louis apartment of Michael Devlin, who is now serving life sentences in prison for kidnapping and abusing the boys.

But Shawn said death didn't scare him. His greatest fear over the more than four years of captivity was that he would never see his family again, he said.

The show also includes an interview with Ben Ownby, who was 13 when Devlin abducted him in January 2007. Both boys were found four days after Ben's abduction.

Shawn was taken while riding a bike to a friend's house in October 2002.

"From day one, he had the gun. He had the power," Shawn said. "The thing that sticks out the most is, he said, 'You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.'"

Not a day went by that he didn't think Devlin would kill him, he said.

Investigators have said Devlin subjected Shawn to a particularly intense month of abuse at the start of his captivity, tying the boy to a futon and duct-taping his mouth.

"I'm not gonna lie; there was times when it seemed like I was better off dead than living through" the captivity, Shawn said.

Devlin had said he would kill Shawn if he ever tried to run, a threat Shawn's family has called a "deal with the devil."

Over time, Shawn was given more freedoms, including time outside and being allowed to make friends.

During the interviews, CBS' Troy Roberts said Shawn's parents, Craig and Pam Akers, had requested that he not ask Shawn why he did not seek rescue by telling someone about his abduction.

His mother said she doesn't think Shawn is ready to talk about it. And his stepfather, Craig Akers, said it's not worth putting Shawn through any more guilt to satisfy people's curiosity.

Shawn said that he still hasn't told his parents everything about what happened, and that he also worries about being misunderstood.

"Is that to protect them?" Roberts asked.

"In some ways, yeah," Shawn said. "Then, in other ways, I'm just not ready."

Ben Ownby, now 14, was kidnapped while getting off his school bus in Franklin County. His 15-year-old neighbor was able to describe Devlin's white pickup truck, the key detail that led to the former pizzeria manager's arrest.

Ben said he is adjusting to life in high school, where he is a freshman.

Phone messages left for the Akers family were not immediately returned Wednesday.

The interview is to air on CBS on Saturday evening.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

Photos related to this story

[MindCrime]

What scared me, was that I used to live not far from there, when I was that age.

[Shawna]

there's nothing about that boy's experience that doesn't scare me.

[MarcM]

I hope he gets put in general population at the prison.

[Jenny]

I agree, Marc, and I hope his ass gets sold to a big guy named Bubba for a few cigarettes

[Lea]

Out of every human being that I think should be put out of our misery is pedophiles. I have no sympathy or feel any mercy toward them at all.

A parents and a child's worst nightmare.

[Shawna]

Ugh, I couldn't agree more, Lea. Children and animals are the most helpless of all creatures, and it just escapes me why anyone would ever want to cause harm to a defenseless being.

[Steel2Velvet]

... it just escapes me why anyone would ever want to cause harm to a defenseless being.

Certainly just about everyone must agree with your statement, Shawna. And yet, over a million of the most defenseless children are killed every year in America and its just fine.

I don't understand either.

[MarcM]

I agree, Marc, and I hope his ass gets sold to a big guy named Bubba for a few cigarettes

tHAT USUALLY DOES NOT HAPPEN TO INMATES THAT HARM CHILDREN. tHEIR PUNISHMENT IS LESS KIND AND QUITE PERMANET.

[Lucky]

What scared me, was that I used to live not far from there, when I was that age.

I was there for the entire thing. It was a local story. From day 1 of Shawns' kidnapping, until the boys were found. The day Owenby was taken, immediatly refrences were made about Shawn, the cases seemed so similar. People were literally in tears the day they were found. We made phone calls to friends letting them know he'd been found, it was that big a deal to everyone in the area.Shawns' parents were amazing. They kept Shawn in the forefront the entire time he was gone, never letting anyone forget. When & if another child disappeared during that time, for whatever reason, those 2 parents were there, supporting the newer family. The Hornbecks are what I would hope to be in a situation like that. Their strength was amazing. Shawn's strength is amazing.

The world needs to be rid of the true evil that is this man.

[Lucky]

Good.