shawn hornbeck?

Question

How is he, really?

Answer 1

i think mentally, this has affected him for the rest of his life, an people saying he could of left an got help , but no one will no what that man put him threw, this has rudden his life, look at what it put the boy my name is steven threw, this is almost the same way, i hate to see any kid be taken from there family but thank god ben was taken are shawn would of never be found , thank god that both came out alive, good question from u tho

Answer 2

This is a very confusing time for Shawn. No one knows the whole story yet and it will take some time for the truth to be told, if indeed all of it ever will come out. The family should be given some privacy as they seek help in sorting this out and helping Shawn deal with what has happened to him. The perpetrator of this crime is a very sick (and/or evil) man. I feel there is more to this story than has been uncovered at this time.

Answer 3

He will always be known as being molested. It hasn't come out yet, but it will eventually. It can't be more obvious. That guy grew tired of Shawn when he became older and had to go out to find a younger victim. He also will never live down the fact that he had every opportunity to get away, including going to the cops to report his bike stolen. Its just unreasonable for the average person to think that he was a hostage with so much freedom. It's sad for him really.

Answer 4

I can some what relate to the abuse that Shawn went through. I'm sure my abuse as a child wasn't as bad as Shawn's was with Devlin. But, I can say it takes alot of support from family and friends. Lots and lots of counseling. He might seem happy as he smiles on TV. But we know how to hide the hurt and pain inside so others see us being strong. We like to block things out like they never happened, like it was all a dream. Till this day, for me. I can be standing doing the dishes and my husband will come up behind me and put his hands on my neck and it triggers a memory and I flip out. Sometimes things people will say or a smell, will trigger a memory. This will haunt him for the rest of his life. It takes yrs to heal from something like this. I still am. People deal with it in diff ways. I'm open about it. I don't go into detail. But I can talk about it to others.
I think right now Shawn is mixed with all kinds of feelings. Even if he is safe at home with loved ones. He still is alone. Numb, is the best way to put it. Not, sure how to feel. Its not over with yet. I'm sure he's going to have to testify in court. Cause Devlin doesn't have the balls to take a punishment for his actions. I mean really, how would you be doing if you was in his shoes? I think I would be going insane, confused, happy, sad, maybe hating myself. I wanted to commit suicide for yrs. I have depression really bad. I have a wonderful husband and kids now. But, I still have to live with what happened. I guess what I am saying is that no matter how good life can be in the long run, you will always be mad, sad, hate, what happened. And that's something we survivors have to live with.

Answer 5

looks like he is trying to get on with his life saw him on Oprah the other day.

Answer 6

There is allot of facts spread all over the place and I've read most all of them. However when you put them together, with a bit of deductive reasoning, this is how I feel this whole thing went down.

Shawn meets Devlin online through a role playing game and they develop a friendship. During this passive communication, Shawn, a bit lonely, a bit of a rebel, becomes comfortable and emotionally attracted to Devlin. A friendship develops.

As a naïve young boy, Shawn's attraction to Devlin grows stronger. Shawn feels like he can relate to Devlin, he understands him. They develop a trust. They both get emotionally closer, and closer. In some twisted way, it becomes a sort of a bizarre love relationship. Their feelings grow stronger. Shawn probably feels on top of the world with all of this attention from his new, online friend. Devlin knows exactly what he wants, and his plan is working. Devlin finally persuades Shawn that living together would be cool, but Devlin tells him the only way to do this would be to run away forever.

Finally the day arrives. They both make plans to meet. By this time, Shawn's emotions are so deep you couldn't pry him away with a crowbar. Shawn spends the next 4.5 years living with a man who he is now emotionally attached to, being showered with affection, attention and gifts. As the years progress, Shawn's past life becomes more of a distant memory. The longer he stays in this twisted relationship, the harder it is for Shawn to step outside of his emotions, see the reality of it, and leave. That is why he never escapes, or tells the police, even when his brand-new bike from Devlin is stolen.

Shawn makes friends with a neighbor and they hang out in the apartment together. They both laugh and joke around about how similar Shawn looks to the missing boy. Is Shawn nervous? Nope. A bit arrogant? Yes. Shawn is free to go and do as he pleases, while Devlin goes to work to bring home the money to support their relationship. No school, no rules. Just freedom. One day, Shawn decides to get a earring and lip ring and Devlin pays for it. I'm sure Devlin gave him a complement or two.

Shawn is getting older an he starts to doubt his decisions a bit. Confused about his feelings he hooks up with a girl. He misses his family and decides to write a poem on their website, but never follows through. Fast forward four years. Shawn is now turning 16, he's getting older, no longer a young little boy. Devlin becomes less attracted to Shawn because he's getting older. Shawn maybe is becoming less attached to Devlin.

For whatever reason, they both plan on taking in a "younger" boy. Shawn agrees, partly because he still has emotions connected with Devlin, and partly because Shawn knows there would now be a younger boy around. In some strange way, maybe Devlin's pedophile tendencies wore off on Shawn -- Maybe it was encouraged by a mental, predisposition from his biological father. (who, by the way, is a convicted sex offender charged with sodomy). Child porn was found on Devlin's computer. For 4 1/2 years I doubt he kept that a secret from Shawn.

Devlin and Shawn discuss their plan to snatch Ben. Maybe they both knew Ben from online gaming that they played for many hours together. Maybe they saw a picture of Ben on his online profile and knew where he lived? In any event, the day arrives and they both know their roles. Devlin gets in the drivers seat and Shawn prepares for the abduction. A gun, and duct tape are ready. Devlin drives his truck up to Ben. Shawn gets out, grabs young Ben and pulls him into the car, pinning him to the floor. They duck tape him and Devlin drives back to their lair -- The apartment.

Now Shawn is in-charge of keeping Ben under control and watching over him. Shawn perhaps feels a little bit of empowerment. Devlin goes to work while Shawn and Ben stay home. Shawn and Devlin now have a younger companion. What strange things happen in the seclusion of that apartment will probably never be discovered. Where does Shawn sleep at night? I doubt it was on the floor or sofa. From the media we found out there was sex involved in their relationship. One thing is for certain, Shawn, doesn't escape with Ben. Instead, Shawn decides to stay there.

The cops get a tip about a truck used in the abduction of Ben. They see the truck parked outside Devlin's apartment. They knock on his apartment door. Nervous, Devlin refuses to let the police in. They become suspicious, and they force their entry. Inside, the police find Ben and Shawn. Surprised, they take them away. Devlin is handcuffed and taken away.

The cops busted Shawn and Devlin's secret relationship. Nervous, scared and not knowing how to explain his life for 4 1/2 years, Shawn fabricates a story that he was abducted by gunpoint, terrified, sexually abused, and held captive for almost half a decade. Although, Shawn wasn't held against his will. He was well fed, clothed, given gifts and free to come and go as he pleased. However In sympathy, the media agrees with Shawn's story of abduction and abuse. Specialists come out of the wood work to give proof of brainwashing and other types of mumbo-jumbo.

Based on the mere fact that Shawn never left for 4.5 years makes his story weak. However the media surge and pictures of Devlin's large, burley stature and somber expression helps solidify it. Shawn, with the help of the media, pin all the blame on Devlin. Oh well, that's what he deserves right? After all, he's the sick pervert, right? Devlin is now going to take the rap for everything. The whole 4 1/2 years is all Devlin's fault.

People rejoice, and Shawn is deemed innocent. A company steps forward and gives Shawn and his family get a new house. The boy who spots Devlin's truck, gets a new truck. And what about poor, young Ben who was grabbed and shoved into a car by Shawn? If anyone was held captive it was Ben -- By both Shawn and Devlin. Well, poor Ben gets no gifts -- but at least he is back home safe with is parents. I believe the real hero and survivor in this case is Ben.

Devlin pleads not guilty and the rest will play out in a trial. Lies and back-stabbing are very possible to protect ones innocence -- On both sides of the court room.

Only Shawn and Devlin will really know what happened during those 4.5 years living together. If Shawn was a willing participant in this relationship, and he did lie to claim innocence, he'll have to live with his conscience for the rest of his life. But the honest truth about Shawn and Devlin's motivations, feelings, and life together for almost have a decade, will be a deep dark secret that Shawn will probably keep locked inside himself forever.

Whatever happens in the end, I sincerely hope it's the truth. As they say, the truth will set you free.

This is a very bitter-sweet, mysteriously bizarre case, indeed.