About Shawn Hornbeck ...what about the neighbors?

Question

I watched the news the other day and everybody are talking how Shawn had freedom, cellphone, gifts and everything ... how he seemed as a happy child and how they would have never thought that he was kidnapped. Come on, how can we be so ignorant? Don't you think that we ought to open our eyes more on the things around us? He had a best friend and he spent a lot of time with him and his family. How come they never wondered why Shawn doesn't go to school, or when they asked him if he was Shawn Hornbeck, why didn't they check with the police. I know that there are many questions about this but I wonder what u think.

Answer 1

I also think that the child has been mentally abused and frightened, but I see no excuse for adults around them, they should have noticed something, at least the fact that he doesn't go to school because all his friends did. This should definitely be a lesson for all of us, something like that can be happening near us. We need to keep our eyes open!

Answer 2

Have you ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome? There are four elements that a victim must go through before it can work: 1. A severe traumatic shock 2. Isolation - being taken away from the people and surroundings where the person feels secure 3. Programming - hearing what the mind controller wants the subject to believe, over and over and over and over 4. The promise of a reward - often the subjects very life. If you don't think that this kid went through all of the above, then you may have a point. However, we know that at least the first two things happened as a fact and it would be shocking if the other two didn't happen. He is just a kid - leave him alone. He has enough emotional problems to deal with.

Answer 3

There are so many questions, and so many answers that most of us will never be privvy to- I feel so guilty just for driving past that apartment complex on my way to/from work every day for the last year!- imagine how the neighbors, friends, and everyone else feel! right under everyones' noses the whole time!! There are missing posters all over Kirkwood. But how many times have you thought someone looked familiar and then never gave it a second thought? I have a 10 year old boy- and I just wonder how Shawn's Mom is dealing with all of this. The poor woman had probably already accepted her son's death- and now this- I am sure the Shawn they found IS NOT the Shawn they lost four years ago. He' s a different person now. My heart goes out to all involved- and - TO ALL OF YOU PEOPLE THAT KEEP DRIVING PAST THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND BACKING UP TRAFFIC- THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE!!!! PLEASE MOVE ALONG SO THE REST OF US CAN GET TO AND FROM WORK AND HOME!! Thank you!

Answer 4

"I think the whole situation is odd. Yes, I understand that he went to his own website. He had plenty of options to leave and go home. But he didn't why is what I would like know. His step father quit his job, used all his 401K funds to locate his step son. Hmmm! Maybe the abuse wasn't with the kidnapper. Ask yourself did that young man seem happy to have found his parents? Hmmmm! This should get rally good. I'm ready for the Lifetime movie."


Sometimes I'm amazed at the way people think. LIFETIME MOVE???? This is not a game! This is not entertainment! We are talking about the kidnapping of a child! I agree that Shawn's best friend's mother should have questioned why Shawn never went to school. It doesn't take a genius or a super sleuth to figure out a boy that age should be in school.

But, for people to insinuate that he is not happy to be home or that he ENJOYED his time with Devlin just leaves me stunned! He was abused. He was manipulated and threatened. Devlin had all the time in world to make Shawn believe whatever he wanted to make him believe. It's so easy to look in from the outside and say what you would have done, but until you are eleven years old, 90 pounds, and taken away from your home by a man who is 6 ft tall and weighs about 300 pounds, you need to not be so damn critical!

Answer 5

I am glad to hear that some one else besides me is smart enough to see that these stupid cold hearted people did nothing when they thought Shawn Devlin was Shawn Hornbeck. Did you see the Pictures that Rita Lederle took of him? It looked just like him. And Kelly Douglas admitted that she thought Shawn Was Shawn even ask him and still did nothing she acted as though it was Shawn's fault for not saying anything. I would like to see how fearful she would be as a child . Those people are the type to act like they care after the fact. But Actions are louder than words .They never acted on anything thing,Now all of a sudden they care .Who's kidding Who here?

Answer 6

This is all very strange. Maybe Shawn ran away from home for some reason. Didn't want to go back. He sure had a lot of freedom with Devlin. Also he was on myspace, could he have been in contact with Ben and maybe Ben wanted to leave home?? for some reason, so Shawn sent Devlin for him?? I am thinking this was not a typical kidnapping. I just have these vibes that something is not right with this whole thing. Think about what a person can do on a computer and the number of people you can contact. Hmmmmm.

Answer 7

I think that you will never know what he went through over the last four years, he was most likely abused (mentally & physically)

It's hard to say why the neighbors never checked into the situation more, it's too bad they didn't.

I am just happy that both boys are alive and with their families now!!!!!

Answer 8

I definitely is odd. With all the "freedom" one would think he would alert someone...anyone!

I assume there was some sort of psychological manipulation ..sure we will find out more in the next few weeks.

But it is odd that the guy hasn't been charged with anything re: the older boy.

Answer 9

I think the whole situation is odd. Yes, I understand that he went to his own website. He had plenty of options to leave and go home. But he didn't why is what I would like know. His step father quit his job, used all his 401K funds to locate his step son. Hmmm! Maybe the abuse wasn't with the kidnapper. Ask yourself did that young man seem happy to have found his parents? Hmmmm! This should get rally good. I'm ready for the Lifetime movie.