71 Charges against Michael Devlin

I posted awhile back about the miracle in Missouri where 2 abducted boys were found alive. I also expressed dismay over comments critical of Shawn Hornbeck, who had been missing for over 4 years. Many were questioning why he didn't escape. I brought up that he obviously had been so traumatized and tortured that he was too afraid to escape. Well, yesterday we found out some of the trauma that Shawn was forced to endure.

Devlin faces 71 charges, 17 related to Ben Ownby and 54 related to Shawn Hornbeck. Here is the list of the specific charges. Gateway Pundit breaks down the charges like this:

In the case of 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck, the abuse lasted four years, according to the charges. For 13-year-old Ben Owbny, the abuse began the day he was abducted last month and lasted until he was rescued four days later.

The charges represented the first time authorities have openly accused Michael Devlin of molesting the children.

...Seventeen of the charges allege that Devlin kidnapped Ben on Jan. 8 and forced the boy to have "deviate sexual intercourse" with Devlin four times that day and four times each day for the next three days. There are no charges for the day of Jan. 12, when the boys were found.

The remaining 54 charges claim that after kidnapping Shawn in October 2002, Devlin kept the boy isolated in Devlin's apartment for the first month.

The boy was forced to have intercourse with Devlin throughout that month and at least once a month until Shawn and Ben were found in January, prosecutors said.

What was done to these boys is really too horrific to contemplate let alone endure. It breaks my heart that even though Ben was only gone for 4 days he was still sexually assaulted at least 16 times. What kind of a monster does this?

Thanks to Missouri's version of Jessica's law that was passed by Missouri's Republican Congress and signed into law by Governor Blunt last year Devlin should get the book thrown at him. He is supposed to get a life sentence for every act of sodomy and he has 69 such charges against him. In my opinion he should get the death penalty but life in prison will work. I just hope he doesn't get any breaks because there is talk of a deal since he may have confessed to some of the charges. Life in prison without the possibility of parole, nothing less!!

SOURCES:
Accused kidnapper, Michael Devlin, faces 71 new charges
Gateway Pundit--Michael Devlin Charged With 69 Charges of Sexual Assault

Previous posts:
Miracle in Missouri
Another Smorgasboard

Miracle in Missouri

2 Missing Boys Found Alive in Missouri

I can't tell you what awesome news this is. Ben Ownby disappeared this past monday after getting off his school bus. It was on the local and national news and since the 72 hour mark had passed everyone was fearing the worst. I can't tell you what a shock it was to see the news break live while I was watching Court Tv friday afternoon. They had found him alive but not only that they had found another boy who had been missing for 4 1/2 years. Shawn Hornbeck had also been found alive after disappearing 4 1/2 years earlier.

As the pundits on Fox News were talking about it yesterday they were saying this is the most shocking and best news on a case like this since Elizabeth Smart was found alive. You don't get good news in cases like this very often so it was very exciting.

I also watched Shawn Hornbeck's stepfather talk about the pain he had gone through the past 4 years and what it was like to have the reunion with his son. What always breaks my heart is you know irreparable damage has been done to this kid. Hopefully Ownby won't be too traumatized but with Hornbeck how do you recover from having been kidnapped and held by a sex offender for that amount of time? That was what always made me sad about Elizabeth Smart. It was so great that she was found but how will she ever recover from the abuse that she suffered those months that she was gone? These monsters steal their childhood and then they are supposed to live normal lives. Yet another reason to strengthen our laws against sex offenders.

KC Star articles:
Missing Boys Found Alive
Questions Accompany Elation

Others Blogging:
Suzie's post-- Prayers Answered Miracles Happen O/T
Gateway Pundit-- St. Louis Officials Find Ben Ownby & Shawn Hornbeck Alive!

My Letter to Bill O'Reilly about the Michael Devlin Case

To Bill O'Reilly:

I am a regular watcher of your Tv show and 70% of the time I love your passion and agree with what you have to say. Yet, one issue that I have had a problem with from the start was your questioning of the victim, Shawn Hornbeck. It distressed me at how you questioned and almost blamed him for not escaping earlier.

Now that the details have come out of the torture he endured (even his defense attorneys were horrified at having to watch the videotape of Devlin torturing Shawn) and the "deal" he made to stay alive I think you owe Hornbeck and his family an apology. I see you as a stand up guy who has done so much for the children and I applaud your courageous stand on Jessica's law and your willingness to go after states who aren't passing one.

I live in KC, Missouri so I have followed this issue on my blog and look forward to your response.