Todays Oprah Show.. do you think it's too soon?

[LakeAriel]

I must say the person I was most disappointed in was Oprah herself. Although she did follow a careful line of questioning it still felt exploitative to me. The boys own parents don't even know what happened in full yet. I know they had to agree to go on the show but I'm just kind of disappointed in Oprah for pushing this on them so soon. Who cares what the public wants to know? Let's think about what's good for that boy.

I am surprised at her myself.

 

[Beth76]

I thought his website was shawnhornbeckfoundation.com or do they have two different ones.

You know, I'm not sure. I just knew they had a website and was just assuming that was it.

 

[Beth76]

Yes it sure was!

Cool they are a great show! That sounds like something they would do. I don't always get to listen to them because they aren't always family friendly. But they are definitely my favorite radio show.

 

[LizinSTL]

Is he really!?! I haven't followed this particular case closely, but it seems like folks really jump on their 15 minutes of fame more nowadays. Like the runaway bride thing in Georgia. Press conferences, family spokesmen, etc. It all seems unnatural and insincere. Not saying that's the case here, but if my I'd just found my son after 4 years of who-knows-what, Oprah would be the last thing on my mind...unless she offered to foot the bill for the therapy. then I'd consider doing the show.

In the St. Louis area, there would be absolutely NO cost for those kids and families to receive therapy. None. The Child Advocacy Center provides it free of charge to victims and their families and is reimbursed by the state's victim fund.

I did think that the Oprah show was too soon. I commend the Ownby family for choosing to not have Ben on the air. I also commend Shawn's family for the very careful responses they had to the questions.

I do NOT think that it was appropriate for the police officers to be there. While it's wonderful that they followed through on their suspicions, the Kirkwood PD had already ruled out Devlin as a suspect earlier in the week. I have little doubt that these guys would have ruled him out too, had a neighbor not insisted that they check it out.

 

[LizinSTL]

I was watching something a few days ago where they were interviewing the pizza shop owner. HE said he called police & said his employee has a truck that matches the description but also told him he was 99% sure his employee wouldn't have had anything to do with a kidnapping.

Did anyone else see that? Did the police investigate this guys phoned in tip? Or has it been proven that the interview was a lie & he never called in such a tip?

They ran Devlin's name and plate earlier in the week. He came back without a record and the Kirkwood PD eliminated him as a suspect.

 

[kdibattista]

I taped the episode and just finished watching...

Yes, it was way too soon. That poor boy... he looked so incredibly uncomfortable . I am also very irritated with Oprah. There was more then one occassion that Shawn said he didn't want to answer something so Oprah turned around and asked him a different way about the same thing or proceeded to tell the world something that Shawn said he didn't want to talk about on camera... I was disgusted .

I commend Ben's parents for not allowing him to appear.

 

[orljustin]

I have little doubt that these guys would have ruled him out too, had a neighbor not insisted that they check it out.

How many crappy white Nissan trucks exist with dilapidated camper tops on them exist? I would think they would bang down doors of anyone that matches the description.

 

[SplshMtn99]

I am sure you guys that are following the case have seen this :

http://www.shawnhornbeck.com/

I am glad he looks so happy in those pictures!!

Thanks for the link. Yes, he looks GREAT!!!!!

 

[r3ngels]

How many crappy white Nissan trucks exist with dilapidated camper tops on them exist? I would think they would bang down doors of anyone that matches the description.

He took the top off and St. Louis area is not very compact, the amber alert went out for the whole metro and surrounding areas with the description of the truck which even includes Illinois... Ben's family lives in a rural area and the truck was found in the suburbs.

In Missouri you have your fair share of the Mom Vans, SUV's and then the pick up truck.

 

[LizinSTL]

How many crappy white Nissan trucks exist with dilapidated camper tops on them exist? I would think they would bang down doors of anyone that matches the description.

Plenty. The metro St. Louis area has several million people. My neighbor has a crappy white truck w/ a camper top. It doesn't run, but it sits in his garage. When the amber alert was issued, I must have seen 10 or more a day that were similar enough to consider.

The fact of the matter is, Devlin didn't have a record. He was ELIMINATED as a suspect early in the week because of that. Hopefully, law enforcement will learn that a lack of criminal record shouldn't clear someone.

Missouri has more than 100 counties. St. Louis county has more than 25 different police departments on top of the St Louis county police. Add in the rural counties, the city of St. Louis and the areas in Illinois- it's a big job to check the entire metro area for white trucks.

I have little doubt that every owner of a white pick up was visited in Ben's county. It's a larger job adding Metro St. Louis to that.

 

[Aisling]

The part about the police picking up Shawn & a friend 3 times most likely I read on AOL news. I remember the friends (older?) brother was the one they were interviewing in the story. He was telling all about Shawn & friend (his brother) and what they liked to do (ride bikes & skateboard)...and how the friend slept over at Shawn's sometimes....how the friend saw guns at Shawn's.....how Shawn's "dad" was at work while he slept over. A female neighbor also said she saw Devlin teaching Shawn how to drive his pick-up truck. And then she later say Shawn driving the truck & the friend as a passenger.

Just so amazing to think someone can have so much fear over you that you can't even tell the police the truth while you are already sitting in their car. So sad.

My SIL is a police officer, and her theory is that the boy was sexually abused right away, made to feel humiliated/ashamed, and then further shamed when Devlin told the boy that the boy was enjoying it. She said keep the age in mind, that at 11 years old, this was his first sexual experience, and even while being terrified and humiliated, his body would eventually respond sexually to his captor, which tremendously adds to his shame and his unwillingness to escape. He may have felt like he was bad, had done something wrong, that he could never go back to his family after going through those experiences and being told by Devlin that they were lovers.

Now, she has no evidence of any of this...this is just talk around the precinct, based on other cases they know of.

In any case, my heart breaks for this boy, he's probably so confused.

One other thing, did anyone notice on Oprah, Shawn said he was happy that Ben was able to hang on for those 4 days, and that he felt sorry for what Ben went through. So Shawn probably witnessed Ben being sexually abused. Shawn looked so sad, even though he said he was happy to be home. He probably doesn't know who he really is anymore, so to speak.

 

[All American]

I must say the person I was most disappointed in was Oprah herself. Although she did follow a careful line of questioning it still felt exploitative to me. The boys own parents don't even know what happened in full yet. I know they had to agree to go on the show but I'm just kind of disappointed in Oprah for pushing this on them so soon. Who cares what the public wants to know? Let's think about what's good for that boy.

Oprah bugs.

Thanks for the link to the sight. Shawn looks great, and it's great he and Ben are home.

 

[Twende]

How long before the Devlin story comes out? I will bet that he was sexually abused as a young child and that the person who did it to him was never prosecuted!

I have heard that Devlin was adopted but that is all I have heard of his youth.
These kind of sickos are not born ....they are made by other sickos and courts who do not punish the offenders!

I agree with Oprah on one thing for sure. People who sexually assault children one time, need to be locked up for life!

The laws need to change, become uniform between states and include some juvenile offenders.

I too see the sadness in Shawn's eyes. It made me cry to think of what he and Ben have been put through. Poor kids!

 

[Beth76]

I taped the episode and just finished watching...

Yes, it was way too soon. That poor boy... he looked so incredibly uncomfortable . I am also very irritated with Oprah. There was more then one occassion that Shawn said he didn't want to answer something so Oprah turned around and asked him a different way about the same thing or proceeded to tell the world something that Shawn said he didn't want to talk about on camera... I was disgusted .

I just finished it too and it started out ok. But you're right when he said he didn't want to answer (and I'm SURE Oprah new ahead of time what he wouldn't want to talk about) she made up her own answer and directed it as a "yes/no" question for him to answer. I don't think he should have been in the studio audience--he did look very uncomfortable there.

 

[mamajoan]

I was mystified that Shawn was in the Audience AFTER the taped interview was shown.. HOLY COW.. I wanted to just smack Oprah for her arrogance.. asking that kid the same question after he said No.
I think Ben's family had a better idea by appearing, answering O's ?s and not letting Ben go thru it on national tv.

Question... the cops never mentioned any of Devlin's neighbors who talked to them the night that they were serving warrents at the complex. The news here in St. Louis kept showing a man who said HE brought the cops attention to the Nissan truck....(It was a resident of the apartment complex)..
Has anybody heard any more from that fella? or an acknowledgement from the St. Louis cops?


btw.. Oprah looked a mess today... what's up with that?? Her face looked somewhat bruised..

oh.. and I believe that people that have been found guilty of sexual crimes should be forced to where ankle bracelet monitors... for the rest of their lives.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i think it was too early, i turned it on and realized it was this show and just turned the tv off.

 

[Poppinsme]

How long before the Devlin story comes out? I will bet that he was sexually abused as a young child and that the person who did it to him was never prosecuted!

I have heard that Devlin was adopted but that is all I have heard of his youth.
These kind of sickos are not born ....they are made by other sickos and courts who do not punish the offenders!

I agree with Oprah on one thing for sure. People who sexually assault children one time, need to be locked up for life!

The laws need to change, become uniform between states and include some juvenile offenders.

I too see the sadness in Shawn's eyes. It made me cry to think of what he and Ben have been put through. Poor kids!

At my risk I have to comment. It is a myth to say that pedophiles are themselves molested as children. Most of them were never molested.
I was abused as a 13 year old by a pedophile. Unless you have had this happen to you then it is hard to understand. It was not untill my 30s that I could look at this and research pedophiles extensivly. Pedophiles kidnap children but also become friends with young children and "groom" them for there pleasure later. They choose children to victimize that are easy pickings. Examples: broken homes, abusive parents, parents always working and never home. Almost all pedophiles are men and men pedophiles are different then women. Most men its about sex and the conquest. Women its for love. I feel that the pedophile that got me really did love me. Sounds odd doesnt it. But heres another odd thing I loved the pedophile. He screwed me up so bad that it took me years to get through it. They know what to say and what to do to get your trust and boy do they exploit it. My mother and father were seperated at the time this happened and I never told my mother untill I was 35. She was beside herself with grief. Blaming herself because she did nothing at the time. She thought this man was just being kind to me because my father wasnt around anymore. This was back in 1969 and children didnt talk about those things. Plus I was told by the pedophile he would kill my mother if I told her. I put up with his abuse for 8 months and then I stopped it. How? I threatened to go to the police.
My DH and I never had children, we couldnt. But I do the next best thing I work in a NICU and try to help save babies. I also am a huge, huge proponent of tough laws and stopping internet predators. You cant stop a pedophile they cant be reformed, they need to be put in prison for life. As to the pedophile that got me. He died in 1970 in a car wreck. I really really feel for those boys. Its hell. But they are survivors like me not victims. Sorry this was so long. I cant believe im posting this.

 

[DawnCt1]

They are asking for money to be sent directly to him? Very exploitive if you ask me.
Is it even a legit site?
It also says there will no longer be media interviews but they are going to be on Larry King tomorrow at 9. I am still worried for this boy, I hope he gets proper medical help towards his recovery.

From what I understand, the family absolutely went broke, almost spending every last dime they had in their search for him. Perhaps they want to set up a fund that will provide for his mental health care and education on an ongoing basis. He has had no education in almost 5 years. There are a lot of gaps. I keep thinking of the Steven Staley case. He was found after 7 years and it was tragedy for the family since the day he was abducted until the day he died.

 

[DawnCt1]

I do NOT think that it was appropriate for the police officers to be there. While it's wonderful that they followed through on their suspicions, the Kirkwood PD had already ruled out Devlin as a suspect earlier in the week. I have little doubt that these guys would have ruled him out too, had a neighbor not insisted that they check it out.

Why don't you think it was appropriate to have the police there? I know they were doing their job but it gave the family an opportunity to thank them. Not that they needed or looked for thanks but it helps to the family when they can thank them.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have heard that Devlin was adopted but that is all I have heard of his youth.
These kind of sickos are not born ....they are made by other sickos and courts who do not punish the offenders!

I!

I used to think that as well until I worked in a locked children's psychiatric unit and saw children from very good families, with other very normal siblings that were "off" from the moment they were born. We had a sociopath that was 7 years old. We had one child that couldn't live outside of a locked area without wearing a hockey mask or he would attack. He didn't want to. When the feeling came over him, he would warn people, but the point is, the brain figures much more into behavior than we used to think. Children aren't really those blank slates that we can shape to our standards.