Potosi, Mo. – Michael J. Devlin used force in terrorizing 11-year-old Shawn Hornbeck and a handgun to keep him compliant in the 2002 abduction of the boy, according to new charges filed Wednesday.
Washington County authorities added their charges of kidnapping and armed criminal action against Devlin, 41. He already is being held on a child kidnapping charge in neighboring Franklin County in the abduction Jan. 8 of William “Ben” Ownby.
Authorities found Shawn, now 15, and Ben, 13, in Devlin’s Kirkwood apartment Friday.
Both new charges are felonies, and a judge has set a $3 million bail in the case.
Authorities said Devlin will remain jailed in Franklin County. He will be arraigned this morning on the charge there.
St. Louis County officials declined to comment Wednesday on possible charges they may file. Federal charges also are possible.
Washington County Sheriff Kevin Schroeder and Prosecuting Attorney John D. Rupp Jr. declined to go into details but said Shawn had been interviewed for the information used to charge Devlin.
“Shawn is a very strong young man,” Schroeder said. “He is an articulate young man. He is doing very well.”
They said they were focusing on Shawn’s need to reconnect with his family rather than rushing the case against Devlin.
“Court procedures are difficult for adults, let alone children who have gone through what he has for the past four years,” Rupp said.
Also on Wednesday, investigators said they were still looking for any links between Devlin and two missing-child cases in Lincoln County. So far, no link has been found.
Bianca Piper, 13, disappeared on March 10, 2005, on a rural road near Foley. Charles Arlin Henderson, 11, has not been seen since he went to ride his bicycle on July 25, 1991, near Moscow Mills.
In St. Charles, police also will look at whether Devlin could be connected to the disappearance of Scott Kleeschulte, 9, nearly 19 years ago.
