St. Louis – Detectives investigating alleged kidnapper Michael Devlin have shown photographs to relatives of a child missing since 1991 that look like they could be of the long-lost boy, the family members say.
Charles “Arlin” Henderson was 11 when he disappeared in July 1991 while riding his bike on a rural road in Moscow Mills, about an hour’s drive northwest of St. Louis.
Devlin, 41, is charged with kidnapping Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby in similarly remote areas. Shawn, now 15, and Ben, 13, were found Jan. 12 at Devlin’s suburban St. Louis apartment. Authorities are investigating whether he could be linked to Arlin’s disappearance.
The Lincoln County sheriff’s detectives who showed Henderson’s relatives the photos this week said the pictures came from someone who claims to know Devlin and who said the boy pictured was an acquaintance of Devlin’s from years ago, said James McWilliams, Arlin’s uncle.
The photos are roughly 10 years old and show a teenager of about 17, the relatives said. Arlin would have been 17 in 1997.
The teen looked like he could be her son, Debra Henderson said. “Yeah, he really did,” she said. “But I am not getting my hopes up.”
Lincoln County detectives are part of a state and federal task force investigating Devlin to see if he is linked to other child abductions. Devlin is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
