Missing boy Ben Ownby from Missouri Found alive with another missing boy!

[lg3]

According to today's paper (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) Shawn's parents (the Akers') are going to be on Oprah on Wednesday, and aren't going to be talking more to the media until after that. It doesn't specifically say if Shawn will be on too or not. A lot to sort out..........

 

[RrCoAsTeR]

Just saw on CNN that at first there was some confusion if the kidnapper of the boys was on the Missouri sexual predators list. At first they thought he was but tonight they said he was on the list in Utah. Obviously these predators cannot be tracked, they just move to another state. Definitely need tougher laws and much longer jail time for these creeps.

He was using a different name (Michael TATE) in Utah, and that was the name on the list, is wha I have heard

 

[Jestocost]

He was using a different name (Michael TATE) in Utah, and that was the name on the list, is wha I have heard

Original reports that he was registered in Utah were incorrect. There is a person with the same first and last name registered there, but it is not the same guy. The accused kidnapper has lived and worked in the St. Louis area for 20+ years and is not a registered offender in MO.

 

[r3ngels]

I am balling like a baby... watching Oprah. Anyone else watching?

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

I am balling like a baby... watching Oprah. Anyone else watching?

I'm crying too. They sure are one strong family.

 

[Chloe'sMom]

I have to admitt that I am really worried about Shawn and I truly hope that his family does some long term counseling. DH and I both agree that he just looks absolutely beaten down. If you look in his eyes, there is a vacancy behind them - the smile never truly meets his eyes, there is no emotion. I know this must be extremely overwhelming which is why in a way I wish they had not done the Oprah interview.

I also noticed that he looked to his Dad a lot for guidance. You would think someone being through what he's been through he would have a distrust in men. But then again - I'm not a professional. I just thought it was odd how often he looked to his Dad but not his Mom.

I thought what the FBI agent said was great - don't question Why. That question gets the defensives up - like the victim did something wrong.

I pray these families will be able to heal what is broken and be able to restore what is now lost.

~Amanda

 

[kdibattista]

I have to admitt that I am really worried about Shawn and I truly hope that his family does some long term counseling. DH and I both agree that he just looks absolutely beaten down. If you look in his eyes, there is a vacancy behind them - the smile never truly meets his eyes, there is no emotion. I know this must be extremely overwhelming which is why in a way I wish they had not done the Oprah interview.

I also noticed that he looked to his Dad a lot for guidance. You would think someone being through what he's been through he would have a distrust in men. But then again - I'm not a professional. I just thought it was odd how often he looked to his Dad but not his Mom.

I thought what the FBI agent said was great - don't question Why. That question gets the defensives up - like the victim did something wrong.

I pray these families will be able to heal what is broken and be able to restore what is now lost.

~Amanda

Very well said

 

[jenr812]

I have been living under the rock called "nursing school" and had no idea about any of this til now. So sad. One thing that haunts me right now is this - currently I am doing clinicals for my psych nursing rotation at a facility for adolescents, most of whom are sex offenders (and almost all of them have been sexually abused or molested themselves). From speaking with many of these kids, reading their charts, and sitting in on group sessions as well as one on one sessions, the horrific and sad truth is that many people who are sexually abused go on to be sexual abusers. I pray that Shawn receives EXTENSIVE counselling. So heartbreaking.

 

[LakeAriel]

I have to admitt that I am really worried about Shawn and I truly hope that his family does some long term counseling. DH and I both agree that he just looks absolutely beaten down. If you look in his eyes, there is a vacancy behind them - the smile never truly meets his eyes, there is no emotion. I know this must be extremely overwhelming which is why in a way I wish they had not done the Oprah interview.

I also noticed that he looked to his Dad a lot for guidance. You would think someone being through what he's been through he would have a distrust in men. But then again - I'm not a professional. I just thought it was odd how often he looked to his Dad but not his Mom.

I thought what the FBI agent said was great - don't question Why. That question gets the defensives up - like the victim did something wrong.

I pray these families will be able to heal what is broken and be able to restore what is now lost.

~Amanda

Does anyone know what happened to his real Dad and how long the Step Dad has been with his Mom?

 

[r3ngels]

His biological father died in 1999

 

[LakeAriel]

His biological father died in 1999

Were the parents together till then? I am curious how long the stepfather was in his life.

 

[Sherri]

Does Shawn have siblings?

 

[r3ngels]

Were the parents together till then? I am curious how long the stepfather was in his life.

I am not sure if his mom was married to his biological Dad until his death but the media has always said that Shawn considers his Dad to be Craig that Shawn has had him in his life since he was small and he was in the process of adopting him but it was never finalized before Shawn was taken and Shawn has asked if they could finalize the process last weekend. He will take Craigs name.

Does Shawn have siblings?

Yes, I think at least 2, he is even an uncle.

 

[Sinderelli]

I am in Kirkwood (E&BMom=my mom) and my aunt used to live across from the kidnapper's mother and is friends with her. She said she is very sweet. The kidnapper was apparently one of three adopted children, and it was a very large family

This makes me curious...did his family have any exposure to Shawn? Did they question how an 11 year old boy suddenly came into their grown son's life?

 

[phamton]

I wonder if anyone remembers how the "psychic" Sylvia Browne said on Montel that Shawn was dead and buried under a rock. James Van Praugh got it wrong too.

http://www.mydjconnection.com/articles/2003/02/27/community/news2.txt

 

[LakeAriel]

I wonder if anyone remembers how the "psychic" Sylvia Browne said on Montel that Shawn was dead and buried under a rock. James Van Praugh got it wrong too.

http://www.mydjconnection.com/articles/2003/02/27/community/news2.txt

I found that story too. Thankfully, she was wrong!

 

[E&BMom]

This makes me curious...did his family have any exposure to Shawn? Did they question how an 11 year old boy suddenly came into their grown son's life?

I don't know about that. Maybe didn't invite them over???? I would think (and hope ) that they would have reported this if they knew.
My aunt had talked to the mom occasionaly but has not lived by them for at least 10 yrs.

I posted this on another thread but here is our local little town paper link. It has some articles in it about the family and other stuff.
www.timesnewspapers.com Click on the Webster-Kirkwood link.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

this story is haunting me, it's just so terribly sad. I think it's affecting me so much because my ds is around the same age as these boys. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about the torture these boys endured and the torture their parents have been going through for over 4 years! I can't even imagine sleeping at night and not knowing where my son is, it makes me sick to think about. It's hard to tell my ds that there are terrible people out there like this and to remind him of what to do if someone ever tries to kidnap him, hurt him or take him against his will. It's hard because I know the truth is that we can inform them of the dangers and try our hardest to protect them but we can't be with them every minute of every day. ugh! I'm so glad these boys are back with their families and I hope they get the help they will definitely need to get through all of this.