Shawn Hornbeck Foundation
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The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization based in Richwoods, Missouri, devoted to the search for and rescue of abducted children. It runs the Shawn Hornbeck Search and Rescue Team.
The Rescue team was founded by Pam and Craig Akers following the disappearance of their son Shawn Hornbeck. Hornbeck was 11 on October 6, 2002 when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri home. Shawn Hornbeck was missing for over four years before being discovered on January 12, 2007.
The Shawn Hornbeck Search and Rescue Team is a member of NASAR (National Association for Search and Rescue) and a member of SARCOM (Search and Rescue Council of Missouri). It is also involved with the National Search Dog Association.
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[edit] History
The Akers founded Shawn Hornbeck Search and Rescue Team following the disappearance of their son Shawn Hornbeck. Hornbeck was 11 on October 6, 2002 when he was kidnapped while riding his bicycle near his Richwoods, Missouri home. Hornbeck was missing for over four years before being discovered on January 12, 2007. Police were searching for a 13-year-old, recently missing boy, Ben Ownby of Union, Missouri. Aided by a descriptive tip from teenager Mitchell Hults of Union, Missouri[1], police searched Michael J. Devlin's apartment. Hornbeck and Ownby were both found there in Kirkwood, Missouri [2] Sylvia Browne told the Akers on The Montel Williams Show, shortly after his disappearance that he was dead, and described the abduction, telling them several things about the abductor that were incorrect.[3][4]
[edit] Prosecution
In June 2007, Devlin was charged with 80 counts in the abductions and molestation of Hornbeck and Ownby. On October 8, 2007, Devlin pleaded guilty to all charges filed against him and was sentenced to life imprisonment [5].
[edit] Akers' Involvement
Shortly after the recovery of Shawn Hornbeck, his parents announced their withdrawal from active involvement with the foundation. Its operation would be headed by family friend and co-founder Chris Diamond. They have since returned to participation, and Shawn Hornbeck has made public appearances on behalf of the organization.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.free republic.com/focus/f-chat/1768479/posts Mitchell Hults is Missouri's Hero
- ^ Associated Press, "Missing boy in the open: Child had encounter with police just 10 months after disappearance, January 21, 2007, as found in the Albany Times-Union, January 21, 2007, p. A7.
- ^ http://stopsylvia.com/articles/montel_shawnhornbeck2.shtml Follow-up to "Montel: Shawn Hornbeck Reading"
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlscV3mvL4 SYLVIA BROWN WRONG: Shawn Hornbeck
- ^ "Devlin Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Photographing, Taping Kidnapped Boy", FOXNews.com, 10 October 2007
[edit] External links
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