Two families in St. Louis have experienced a joyous reunion after years of separation. Shawn Hornbeck, who was kidnapped 4 1/2 years ago at the age of 11, and Ben Ownby, who was taken after getting off his school bus just days ago, were finally returned to their parents. The discovery of the boys came about during a routine search warrant that led police to investigate the apartment of Michael Devlin in Kirkwood, Mo.
Pam Akers, Hornbeck’s mother, expressed her overwhelming relief and happiness at seeing her son again. She compared the feeling to being in a good dream after enduring a long, nightmarish reality for so many years. At an elementary school decorated with festive balloons and welcoming signs, Hornbeck’s stepfather, Craig Akers, described the initial shock he felt upon seeing the boy, followed by pure joy at their reunion.
Hornbeck appeared calm and comfortable, frequently smiling with his mother’s arm around him. He had grown significantly in the years since his disappearance, with darker and longer hair than in the pictures of the missing 11-year-old.
While authorities have not provided specific details about the investigation, they did reveal that a crucial piece of information came from a schoolmate of Ownby’s. This friend noticed a beat-up white pickup truck speeding away at the same time Ownby vanished from the gravel road near his home. Acting on this lead, Kirkwood city police officers located a truck matching the description on Thursday night. Through further investigation and collaboration with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, the boys were found at Devlin’s home on Friday.
Missing Children Statistics:
In 2005 there were 66,548 children reported missing in Canada.
| Breakdown for 2005 | |
| Stranger: | 30 |
| Accident: | 45 |
| Wandered Off: | 704 |
| Parental: | 349 |
| Runaways: | 51,280 |
| Unknown: | 12,079 |
| Other: | 2,061 |
| Total: | 66,548 |
SOURCE:AP,MCSC
