Shawn Hornbeck Foundation

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The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization based in Richwoods, Missouri, USA, devoted to the search for and rescue of abducted children. It runs the Shawn Hornbeck Search and Rescue Team, which was founded by Pam and Craig Akers following the disappearance of their son Shawn Hornbeck, aged 11, on October 6, 2002, while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods, Missouri. Shawn Hornbeck was missing for over 4 years before being discovered on January 12, 2007 by police searching for a 13-year-old boy by the name of Ben Ownby, who had recently gone missing. Hornbeck and Ownby were both found in the apartment of Michael J. Devlin in Kirkwood, Missouri.^[1]

As of June 2007, Devlin has been charged with 80 counts in the abductions and molestation of Hornbeck and Ownby. On October 8, 2007, Devlin pleaded guilty of all charges filed against him and was sentenced to life imprisonment. ^[2]

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. Shortly after the recovery of Shawn Hornbeck, his parents announced that they intended to withdraw from active involvement with the foundation, leaving its operation to family friend and co-founder Chris Diamond. However, they have since returned to active involvement, and their son has made public appearances on behalf of the organization.

[edit] References

^ 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.
^ FOXNews.com "Devlin Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Photographing, Taping Kidnapped Boy", October 10, 2007