Shawn Hornbeck Speaks!

Today on Oprah, Shawn Hornbeck speaks about his kidnapping four years ago. He offers little in the way of details but he does say that he lived in fear and his parents believe he was sexually assaulted and tortured. You can read portions here. His parents will be on Larry King on Friday as well.

 

==Sorry, but I have been keeping up with this story and I have not read one thing that even starts to support O'Reilly's theory. But then again I am looking at this from a point of view that gives the victims of crime the benefit of the doubt. Unless there is clear evidence otherwise (as in the Duke rape case) I will always side with the victims. I can't do otherwise.

This child (11 yrs old) was taken from his family and life at gun point, threatened at gun point, abused (physically, mentally, and emotionally), threatened some more, frightened, and trapped. Sure he had plenty of physical chances of escape. However I don't think that is the issue, the issue here is his psychology. This boy was mentally trapped and, maybe, a bit on the brainwashed side (ie...thinking he could do nothing to escape without suffering great harm). Anyone who says otherwise simply does not know what they are talking about. Mental chains are just as real as physical chains. So he could go out, be around other people, and look normal on the outside. All the while being trapped on the inside. His going out could also have been an emotional escape from the nightmares that no doubt waited for him back in that monster's apartment. This boy was clearly thrilled to be back with his parents and family. Btw, I believe I read that his stepfather had already started the adoption process before Shawn was kidnapped. They said that process would now be re-started.

 

For anyone who did not see it, here is Shawn Hornbeck's interview on the Oprah show. Please note the sound and video don't go together well. Sorry, could not find another version. However you still get the audio and video even though they don't match.

CLICK HERE

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Great commentary on O'Reilly by Keith Olbermann...here. I agree 100%! Bill O'Reilly no longer deserves a place on the public stage. Amen, and Amen.

 

Another great story by Olbermann...here.

 

==I think that is very, very sad. That based on personal experience that is not in anyway related to what this young man went through you are saying that you don't "buy" his story. John Walsh, and others who are very familiar with these type cases, have clearly stated this kind of thing is not that uncommon. This child was kidnapped when he was eleven years old, he was sexually assaulted, abused, and terrorized for four years by a 300 pound monster. He was too afraid to directly reach out. Yet you don't "buy" his story because you were "streetwise". Responses like yours are why some victims of crime are afraid to report what has been done to them. They are afraid that someone will say that they don't "buy" their account or accuse them of not doing enough to escape or avoid the situation, or worse yet saying that they "liked" it.

==So you are saying that he was lying in the interview when he said he was glad to be back home? You are saying he is lying about praying that he would be rescued? You are saying that he enjoyed being raped and assaulted by that guy more than being in school?

==I am not sure what that has to do with anything. He stated clearly that this monster gave him some freedoms and we know he took advantage of those freedoms. However that does not mean that he was not afraid, that does not mean that he enjoyed his circumstances, that does not mean he did not wish to go home, that does not mean any of that. All it means is that, at that time, he believed the best thing he could do was to go along with this guy, make the best of a bad situation, and hope and pray one of these policemen he had seen would realize who he was or that his parents would find it.

I find it interesting that the moment Michael Devlin was in handcuffs this boy identified himself.

 

==Different child, different kidnapper, different circumstances. I think it is sad that you are saying that you don't buy this child's account simply because others did not have the same experience. That is sad and amazing that people still think that way in 2007.

==How is that related to this case?

==That is really, really disturbing. I am sure he was living it up while being kept from his family, raped, and physically abused. I am sure he was living it up when the neighbor said he heard screaming and crying coming from Devlin's apartment. I am sure that was living it up. Shawn identified himself to the police when the threat was over (when Devlin was in handcuffs). Until that point he did what he had to do to deal with what ever threats, fears, and violence was being done to him.

I find it very interesting that the people who are experienced in dealing with these type cases/crimes have no trouble believing Shawn's account.

 

==This is not about patting anyone on the back or anything like that. I don't take crime, or its victims, with a spoonful of salt. Unless there is solid evidence that clearly refutes a victim's testimony I will always side with, give the benefit of the doubt to, and defend the victim. I will never say that I don't "buy" their story simply because I can't make sense of some things. I have not walked in their shoes so it makes sense that I may not understand all of their choices. I accept Shawn Hornbeck and his families account, as much as has been given, and I pray that he can get his life back. I have the same prayer for Ben Owenby and his family. They are victims of the worst sort of crimes. As for the man who did this to them, he should be executed. ASAP.

 

Btw, the parents of Shawn Hornbeck are angery with Bill OReilly. They also said that Shawn Hornbeck himself has been upset by OReilly's careless, thoughtless, accusations/questions. This is why I am bothered by OReilly. It is one thing for John Doe to sit in their living room and think/say the things OReilly did. They don't know the family, Shawn, and have no affect on the general public. OReilly has a huge impact. What he says is heard around the world. His comments have, rightfully, angered Shawn's parents and upset the victim (Shawn Hornbeck). OReilly, in my opinion, has no clue what he is talking about. OReilly's comments also angered John Walsh (America's Most Wanted) as well as Sean Hannity.

From the article:

Story Here

Who knew there would ever be a day when I would agree with both Sean Hannity and Rosie ODonnell? Wow!! That is how bad OReilly is. He is causing people who rarely to never agree to agree. So far the "ONLY" thing I have EVER agreed with Rosie on is her opinion of Trump.

 

Hope this does not come up twice. Lost my original reply and did not save it.

==The idea that this kid stayed with that monster, and endured the things he probably had to endure, simply because he wanted a lack of supervision is not an idea that I believe is realistic. Shawn has stated that he was too afraid to leave or call for help. I believe him. I have no reason not to believe him. I believe that, while he may have had "some" physical freedoms, he was mentally trapped the whole four years. Terror, and the need to survive, can do interesting things to the human brain. Mainly when that brain is only 11 years old.

==Actually the comments made by OReilly, and repeated by some here on this forum, have disturbed Shawn Hornbeck and his family (according to Time). Your right this "thread" should not be here. It should have been an OP and any follow up to the OP should have been supportive of this child and not questioning.