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Off Topic Forums => General Chat => Politics, News and Religion => Topic started by: Xbox-Scene on January 15, 2007, 02:19:00 PM

Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: Xbox-Scene on January 15, 2007, 02:19:00 PM
Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Posted by XanTium | January 15 16:12 EST

 
From joystiq.com:
Quote

When 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck was found safe and sound at the home of alleged kidnapper Michael Devlin this weekend, it was the first time his family had seen him since he disappeared over four years ago. Now it appears that Hornbeck's picture has shown up on a popular Xbox community site during his four-year kidnapping.

The GamerTagPics profile for Xbox Live user "DevilDevlin" shows the kidnapped Hornbeck outside what appear to be Devlin's apartment. The profile was created Sept. 4, 2005 but hasn't been accessed since early 2006. DevilDevlin's Gamertag reveals that someone played Saints Row on the account as recently as Friday. It seems likely that Hornbeck used the account -- a Washington Post story reveals Devlin's neighbors "often spotted Shawn out and about, visiting friends on his bicycle or playing video games with the apartment door open."

Full Story: joystiq.com and gamertagradio.com

Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: Base8 on January 15, 2007, 01:39:00 PM
Wow, wtf, thats one of the crazyer xboxscene news stories ive heard.  I guess the kid at least had a 360.  Wierd wierd wierd.



-BaseEight-

Edit:  One time i herd a guy getting his ass kicked over xbox live, i wish i could have done something but its not like i can call 911 and tell them PimpGamer69 is getting beat up though.

This post has been edited by Base8: Jan 15 2007, 09:42 PM
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: gerzand on January 15, 2007, 01:42:00 PM
thats bizarre
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: metaphaze on January 15, 2007, 01:47:00 PM
Thanks for posting the story.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: 0794 on January 15, 2007, 01:53:00 PM
That profile adds to the already disturbing situation that poor kid endured.  Before anyone harps about how he "should of just ran" and "he had all kinds of chances to escape", you cannot realize the powerful psychological control that can be exercised over people until you have truly spent time working with or studying the clinically insane or others with psychological diseases.  I have seen more than I could ever have imagined while in medical school at various psychiatric hospitals.

I only hope that through therapy and the love and support of his family and friends that he can have a normal rest of his childhood and a great future ahead.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: holyniht on January 15, 2007, 02:07:00 PM
yea i think theres alot more 2 this story then they're revealing. although i dont the pysche of a kid whoes been kidnapped since ive never been. Kid seems a lil bit "comfy" if you asked me. Seems like he had plenty of oppurtunity to get help or escape even but didnt. Things might have not been so good at home as the parents might like us to think.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: mlmadmax on January 15, 2007, 02:28:00 PM
Being a father the whole thing creeps me out to the point of wanting to vomit. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

This post has been edited by mlmadmax: Jan 15 2007, 10:29 PM
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: ade_dnb on January 15, 2007, 02:30:00 PM
I read about this in the sun today.... pretty fuked up shit.  He had loads of chances to run as well.  Some people are just fuked up in general.... who in the right mind is gonna kidnap a kid and brainwash him into thinking that he was actually his real father.  I feel sorry for his REAL parents.  Just think what they were going through.  They even set up a website to try and find him.

What is the world coming to?

http://www.thesun.co...7020337,00.html
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: Tribal Prophet on January 15, 2007, 02:42:00 PM
Guys, the first thing that kidnappers tell a kid like this is "if you run, we will go to your house and kill your family before you get a chance to even call anyone".  These people stole you from that family, in your mind they can do anything at this point.

'He had a chance to run' but seriously, how can you blame someone so young for staying to protect his family's life?
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: xbox modder 222 on January 15, 2007, 02:39:00 PM

Just relized the person who kidnapped him last name was Devlin... and the gamer tag is "DevilDevlin" that is FREAKY
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: indiraider on January 15, 2007, 02:39:00 PM
I agree there must be something the family is not telling us about the story or their situation. I seem to think either two things:

1. The boy chose to stay with Devlin. I know he could have been brainwashed and i have also seen the close relationship that prisoners have to their captures. But what the previous poster left you was it only really works when there is a constent reminder of the bounding chains of imprisonment.

2. This theory is a bit crazy because of its bizzar nature but it could be the family had a deal with Devlin to take their child and they could cash in on the publicity after 4 years.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: Agent ME on January 15, 2007, 02:46:00 PM
Ditto to above - if he really wanted to get away, it'd have been easy to. Call 911. Email parents/police-type people. Get on bike and get the heck away. Anything could've worked. I guess he really didn't like his parents?
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: decapkris on January 15, 2007, 02:54:00 PM
I wouldnt be too quick to judge this dude just yet. Sounds like he could have a case of Stockholm syndrome.

QUOTE
The Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response sometimes seen in an abducted hostage, in which the hostage exhibits loyalty to the hostage-taker, in spite of the danger (or at least risk) in which the hostage has been placed. Stockholm syndrome is also sometimes discussed in reference to other situations with similar tensions, such as battered person syndrome, rape cases, child abuse cases, and bride kidnapping.

Stockholm Syndrome
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: ACharmedMatrix on January 15, 2007, 03:08:00 PM
There is definitely something we don't know...
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: throwingks on January 15, 2007, 03:23:00 PM
QUOTE(ACharmedMatrix @ Jan 15 2007, 05:15 PM) View Post
There is definitely something we don't know...
Psychology
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: signal-to-noise-ratio on January 15, 2007, 03:25:00 PM
QUOTE(794 @ Jan 15 2007, 04:00 PM) View Post

I only hope that through therapy and the love and support of his family and friends that he can have a normal rest of his childhood and a great future ahead.


Me too. The less drama in the world the better. Glad he made it home.

As for why he didnt run they should talk to both boys him and the one that was just kidnapped a few weeks ago. Im sure the new one could shed alot of light on the situation.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: jbwrxsti on January 15, 2007, 04:27:00 PM
wow im guessing this kid didn't know how to use his legs, cuz why couldn't this kid just open the front door and go outside when he was gone? ya think he would know his own phone number? come on...
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: indiraider on January 15, 2007, 04:43:00 PM
I was just watching NBC they said he posted two messages on 'his' blog (made by his family by to find him) under Shawn Devlin, asking about himself and asking to write a poem about himself. WTF this is getting weird i hope this topic continues with more speculation because its very weird.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: holyniht on January 15, 2007, 05:15:00 PM
Theres 2 many Puzzles that dont fit into the theory that he was being held againts his will. Neighbors recall seeing him sitting on a sofa playin video games with the door wide open. I mean, he obviously had internet access and priveledges and i doubt that devlin character was watching over his shoulder 24/7 especially for 4 years. The guy worked overnight for christ sake. Sumthing is up
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: nettwerk on January 15, 2007, 05:16:00 PM
QUOTE(quarky42 @ Jan 16 2007, 12:01 AM) View Post

I'm very glad the kid was found and returned to his family.  Sure is weird though.

I'm wondering why this is xbox-scene news just because the kidnapper had an xbox 360...  Do you think this story would appear on a Sony site if the kidnappers instead had a PoS3 ?  

Just seems like an odd place for this kinda thing.



Hi

http://kotaku.com/ga...pper-228650.php
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: jbwrxsti on January 15, 2007, 06:21:00 PM
QUOTE(brywalker @ Jan 15 2007, 05:02 PM) View Post

I know this whole thing sounds fishy. However there is a real simple explanation.

The abductor only had to utter 1 sentence.

"If you try to run, I will cut your family into little pieces."

That's it. That kid would never ever put his family in danger, so he stayed put. I think he gave up on ever seeing his family again, so he did what he could to lead a normal life.

People are fucked up. This guy must have had a mental stranglehold over this poor kid.
come on if you stayed u could of turned into the guys tv dinner... whats the chances he will kill your family before you run away, call 911 and say you were kidnapped and he's after your family... all while the guy is at work all night... just think about it
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: _8ight on January 15, 2007, 07:24:00 PM
here's his pic from his yahoo profile:

IPB Image

here's the link:

http://profiles.yaho...he_pumpkin_king

too bad yahoo has pulled his profile down though.  i saw it a couple days ago and it was intact.  gone now.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: g8crapachino on January 15, 2007, 08:45:00 PM
The kid probable suffers from Stockholm syndrome.  Stockholm syndrome is a very real and well documented pycological affliction where the abductees sympathizes and even befriend or help their abductor.

Some of you people are just naive.  It's really easy for anyone who've never experienced a kidnapping to say what the kid should have done.    Just consider yourselves all lucky that it's never happen to you.   I'll bet that if any of you were to be put into a similiar situation, what you say you would do and what you really do would be entirely different.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: holyniht on January 15, 2007, 09:18:00 PM
a strong positive family influence and upbringing could have avoided all this. I mean kids today are smart as hell. Its not like back in the 80s when you could scare some kid by telling him your gonna get his family or the boogey man is gonna get eat em if he doesnt do what u say. Say that to a kid now and they look @ you like ur stupid  wink.gif . I dont know about you guys but im 21 and i can tell you if i was 10 i would know exactly wat to do in that situation. Not to judge a book by the cover but im pretty sure his parents didnt force him to pierce his lip at such a young age, so the kid did have his wits about em. Next they"ll be saying he didnt know about sex either rolleyes.gif Not pointing fingers or anyting but theres always two sides to a story
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: throwingks on January 15, 2007, 09:37:00 PM
^ Back in the 80s you were 10. Kids don't think logical. Their world is still magical, no matter how mature they sound.

As stated earlier, noone knows unless they went through it. No 10 year old would willingly lose contact with all friends and family. And, if he did, I don't think he would willingly go home now, after 4 years.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: BCfosheezy on January 16, 2007, 06:40:00 AM
QUOTE(throwingks @ Jan 15 2007, 10:44 PM) View Post
^ Back in the 80s you were 10. Kids don't think logical. Their world is still magical, no matter how mature they sound.

As stated earlier, noone knows unless they went through it. No 10 year old would willingly lose contact with all friends and family. And, if he did, I don't think he would willingly go home now, after 4 years.




I just wanted to add to your comment that he might not be "willingly" going home. His abductor is going to jail. This kid doesn't really have anywhere to stay other than with his parents. Depending on his current age and what the Missouri laws are, he is probably not legally able to be emancipated. He's probably legally bound to his parents.



I think we're all assuming this guy just up and took this kid. Why does it have to be any different than these sexual internet encounters where the people mutually want to meet after conversing on the internet? Maybe this kids child life was less than desireable to him (kids are rebellious) and maybe this guy promised him constant video games, lax rules, not an alcoholic like parents, etc. That might have seemed really attractive at the time and the kid arranged the pickup.

I'm going to coin a new phrase with this smile.gif Statutory kidnapping.

Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: pug_ster on January 16, 2007, 09:22:00 AM
QUOTE(g8crapachino @ Jan 16 2007, 04:52 AM) View Post

The kid probable suffers from Stockholm syndrome.  Stockholm syndrome is a very real and well documented pycological affliction where the abductees sympathizes and even befriend or help their abductor.

Some of you people are just naive.  It's really easy for anyone who've never experienced a kidnapping to say what the kid should have done.    Just consider yourselves all lucky that it's never happen to you.   I'll bet that if any of you were to be put into a similiar situation, what you say you would do and what you really do would be entirely different.


I completely agree.  Unfortunately, many kids don't get completely independent from their parents until in the late teens or early 20's.  I'm sure that kid is probably dependent to the abductor even he is not the parent.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: cliffy88 on January 16, 2007, 11:52:00 AM
QUOTE(BCfosheezy @ Jan 16 2007, 02:47 PM) View Post

I just wanted to add to your comment that he might not be "willingly" going home. His abductor is going to jail. This kid doesn't really have anywhere to stay other than with his parents. Depending on his current age and what the Missouri laws are, he is probably not legally able to be emancipated. He's probably legally bound to his parents.
I think we're all assuming this guy just up and took this kid. Why does it have to be any different than these sexual internet encounters where the people mutually want to meet after conversing on the internet? Maybe this kids child life was less than desireable to him (kids are rebellious) and maybe this guy promised him constant video games, lax rules, not an alcoholic like parents, etc. That might have seemed really attractive at the time and the kid arranged the pickup.

I'm going to coin a new phrase with this smile.gif Statutory kidnapping.




Probably the smartest thing said...well idea of what really happened. It could be wrong, but when you think about it...it does sound logical...
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: throwingks on January 16, 2007, 01:17:00 PM
I can see the logical process, but how does that explain the 2nd kid? The info we have on him was he was abducted in plain sight.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: BCfosheezy on January 16, 2007, 04:20:00 PM
QUOTE(throwingks @ Jan 16 2007, 02:24 PM) View Post
I can see the logical process, but how does that explain the 2nd kid? The info we have on him was he was abducted in plain sight.


 

I was just offering up another solution. I don't proclaim it as fact. It is probably wrong, Although it would be easily explainable. There is really nothing there explaining it away.

Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: Nytemunkey on January 16, 2007, 06:33:00 PM
Interesting stuff. Any new developments?
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: buttface96 on January 16, 2007, 07:24:00 PM
Indeed a very strange story, Glad they cought that sick fucker though.
Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: BCfosheezy on January 17, 2007, 09:14:00 AM
QUOTE




The photo prompted someone to post a message yesterday suggesting Devlin used the site to lure young boys. Charles Miller, 60, who lived above him for several years, said the two would stay up "well past midnight" playing video games and that when he complained, Devlin scratched the hood of his truck with a key.


http://www.nypost.co...andy_geller.htm



QUOTE


Bailie said the first thing Ben asked for when he was returned to his family was a snack. Then he asked to play video games.


http://www.foxnews.c...,243681,00.html



QUOTE
Shawn's stepfather, Craig Akers, has said that during Shawn's captivity, he did not attend school. Some neighbors also noticed that they never saw Shawn with books or a backpack.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16634903/



It sounds to me like he told these kids they wouldn't have to go to school anymore. They could play video games whenever and do whatever they wanted. It sounds like the younger, more recent boy immediately regretted his decision.

This is just a theory, but it is starting to make sense to me.

Title: Picture of kidnapping victim appeared on Xbox community site
Post by: xboxSlayer on January 19, 2007, 12:07:00 AM
Well I don't think he was just willing to be kidnapped. I'm sure over the years he was able to get a psychological grip on the boy. I read that the family was on Oprah and they family thinks he was sexually abused although he's not saying anything. I've read similar stories about young men that have had simalar things happen to them and they are afraid to escape because the abuser threatens things like killing them, thier families and themselves. Terrible burden for the boy to have. Video games and other freedoms were probably rewards for good behavior and for staying. I've seen lots of dysfunctional families but I don't think that a 10 year old would leave his family on purpose to be abused.