Regarding the Michael Devlin double kidnapping case?

Question

Everyone is asking how he could have kept that kid for 4 years without the boy trying to escape or trying to run away. I have a different question. My question is this:
From what i have gathered on the news Michael Devlin had relatives in the area. He had at least one brother in the area and his mother as well. Probably more. Now i understand how he could pull the wool over his co-workers and his neighbors eyes by saying the boy was his son. But how on earth did he do this with his brother and his mom? Certainly in that amount of time - 4 years - they were bound to have seen the kid with him or at Devlins appartment. Why wouldnt they question "who is this kid staying with you?" Devlin brought the boy outside, his family (mom and brother) HAD to know that there was some kid living with him. Wouldnt you think it was strange if you had a brother that showed up with a kid you have never heard of and said it was his son?
Was Michael Devlins family helping to cover up for him?

Answer 1

Interesting question. I guess it is possible that his family knew nothing of this boy being in Delvins apartment but you are right. I dont see how he could have kept it secret from them for four years.Especially considering that he really didnt keep the kid locked away or anything. Reports are that the boy had friends in the neighborhood, would regularly go outside by himself and that Delvin would take him around town with him. It doesnt sound like he was hiding him from anyone. I hope the police do investigate the aspect that his family might have known, if it is proven they did they should face charges as well.
But once again, who knows. They might have had no clue.

Answer 2

If Michael Devlin did not have a good functioning relationship with his family, then it is entirely possible that they had no idea what he was doing.

Or if Devlin did not allow anyone to visit his apartment and simply went to visit his relatives, this would account for the failure of his family to notice anything amiss.

Some families are simply not close. But there is more to it than that. On some level Michael Devlin had to know that what he was doing was wrong. So, hiding it by not allowing visitors to his apartment, by having two jobs that would make it difficult to catch him at home, by going alone to visit relatives with threats to the child to keep him in line, and sendng the boy out on the street for those rare occasions when relatives insisted on visiting were probably the order of the day.

So no, I do not believe that the family is covering up. Deep down inside, Michael Devlin was a stranger even to his own family.

Answer 3

It is very easy to keep a child hidden. I think that when (or if) his family came back he just said oh that just a neighborhood kid who comes by now and then. Maybe all the time that Shawn was out late at night was because the Devlin family was over and he had to stay hidden. It is possible that the devlin family was helping a cover up but I don't think it is likely.

Answer 4

Really who knows. He was adopted and worked at a pizza place with his brother. His boss had no clue devlin had a son. Maybe Devlins family never visited him. So thats why. All I know is that one day shawn saw an age progrestion of him on a bench and he said that was an insult. So he could have lsft he just choose not too. Devlins family probaby had no idea of shawn. No bod y knows all the details yet. just wait a couple of weeks. both boys are just now with threir familys. in a week or so, shawn will come out and talk.

Answer 5

There are hundreds of questions that we may never know the answers to. Maybe Devlin had no contact with his family.

As far as the kid being in the wrong, he is a MINOR and Devlin was an adult. He was 11 years old when he was kidnapped, for pete's sake! Devlin knew (or should have known) that keeping the kid there was illegal, immoral and just plain wrong! Not to mention painful for Shawn's family, friends, classmates, asnd parents of other missing kids; as well as frustrating and costly for the taxpayers and searchers, etc.

Answer 6

Shawn probably was kept hidden for a lengthy amount of time(months....years). Enough time for the public to forget or stop looking. And after that amount of time, people wouldn't think that a kid passing in and out of the apartment freely with a cell phone would be held captive. And Shawn was 11 years old when he was abducted, a very confusing age for kids in their own worlds. It would be easy for a captor to persuade or brainwash a kid. And, if you withhold food, water, and other basic needs. When you reintroduce them, you gain a warped level of respect, trust and dependency from captives. Anyone can be broken and values defaced in the right situation. Look at people in wartime, prison or just abusive relationships. I cannot believe that some of you would put the blame on Shawn. His game was most likely survival for him and the ones he loved. It is hard to know what Devlin threatened or told Shawn when he was breaking the poor boy's will. And imagine what would have eventually happened to him if they had not found him. He was coming of age (which is probably why he kidnapped Ben). Michael Devlin couldn't just turn him out. Eventually, the truth would catch up with him. Makes you wonder why he went to work p/t for the funeral home????? In a previous question it was asked what just punishment would be for Devlin...........................for a pedophile who is into young boys........I think double life in solitary confinement with conjugal visits from elderly women rapists. But truly, I bet he should thank his lucky stars if he actually sees the courtroom. There are too many angry people and as bad as jail and prison are..........the other inmates don't treat pedophiles very nice in there. Even they have respect for kids.

Answer 7

It is possible, Shawn could have been a runaway. He may have had an abusive home life. He may have thought, he'd be better off some place else. Michael Devlin may have taken in Shawn and Shawn may have told Michael that he didn't want to go home. Shawn may have told Michael that he had abusive home life. Michael may have been a good samaritan for Shawn. Michael may have been protecting Shawn if he felt the boy was telling the truth about being abused at home. If Michael was nice to Shawn and providing everything like a loving father would. Shawn may have been happy living with Michael. A father figure that he didn't have back home. Everything I read, Shawn had ample time to escape, but he didn't. I think, there may be more than what we see or hear. I hope, he is safe at his family home.

Ben the other hand, may have been picked up by Shawn. They may have known each other by online chat or something. As the media writes, there were no visible injuries to the boys and Michael does not have any criminal record; only 2 traffic tickets. Media told that Michael called the police couple of times when someone took his parking spot. Michael doesn't sound like a bad person.

We'll see what's going on in a couple of weeks. If my theory is wrong, I guess I have to learn more about human psychology.

I had troubled home when I was their age and I wanted to runaway from home, so I can relate if it's true.

Answer 8

It is NOT the boys fault. People walk around with blinders on and don't pay attention to things that are out of the ordinary. Devlin's family is partially to blame for this. Don't they visit his apartment or inquire about his life? I am sending Shaun's family mnoney to help the boy recover. The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation HCR63 Box 495 Richwoods, MO 63071

Answer 9

It was stupid. The kid who accused him kept changing the story of how it happened or where it happened. They are liers. They're very bad people and have a bad history. They even messed with George Lopez before MJ. Golddiggers.. He's always with children because he loves them. Why is it so hard to believe that a man might actually love children that much without any sexual relations. He never had a childhood of his own so he wants to give all the children the best childhood he never had. The accuser had cancer, so he was trying to help him. He did help him. Before the kid accused him, he said that Michael "cured" him. It's not about "women" only, it's about all adults. Michael said he would rather be with children than with adults. He did have a love life, he just kept it very private.

Answer 10

From what I've read they never saw him. It is possible they didn't. He could have had him hidden if they vistited. Another odd thing is with the neighbors. They knew he was there - but didn't know he didn't attend school? I wonder just how long they knew about him for. Was it the whole 4 years? I doubt we will ever know the whole sitution and we probably shouldn't, but whatever Shawn did he survived. I think that is what is most important.