‘The Monster is Caged:’ Kidnapper Michael Devlin Sentenced

By Anastacia Mott Austin

"The monster is caged and will remain caged."

Those words came from the parents of kidnap victim Shawn Hornbeck, after the third sentencing hearing concluded on Wednesday for convicted kidnapper Michael Devlin, 41.

Sentenced on Monday to 20 consecutive life sentences for the kidnapping and abuse of Hornbeck and 13-year-old Ben Ownby, Devlin also faced federal charges Wednesday for making an explicit videotape of himself and Hornbeck, and for taking his victim across state lines. Devlin pleaded guilty to all charges.

The combined sentences for the various crimes committed should have Devlin in prison for the rest of his life, ineligible for parole until he would be more than 100 years old.

Shawn Hornbeck’s parents told reporters that initially they had wanted the death penalty for Devlin, then changed their minds, feeling that a quick death for their son’s abductor would have been "too easy." Said Craig Akers, Shawn’s stepfather in an interview with "Good Morning America," "[If he got the death penalty], it’s all over and he’s gone and it’s done."

Added Pam Akers, Shawn’s mother, "The more I think about it, I almost want him to suffer."

She is not alone. The case shocked and horrified the nation, as details of Shawn Hornbeck’s ordeal emerged. Over the course of three days’ separate sentencing hearings in three different jurisdictions, Devlin pled guilty to dozens of charges, including kidnapping, 69 counts of forcible sodomy, transporting a minor across state lines, pornography, and attempted murder.

The last charge came to light after Devlin admitted to trying to strangle Shawn in 2002. Devlin told the court that he planned to murder the then-11-year-old after assaulting him repeatedly, but that Shawn "talked him out of it," essentially making a deal with his captor to do anything he asked, as long as he was allowed to live.

Additional details reveal that the second boy Devlin kidnapped, 13-year-old Ben Ownby, was in grave danger, as Devlin had told Shawn his plans to murder the boy after assaulting him for several days. But a classmate of Ben Ownby gave police the tip that led them to Devlin’s white pickup truck and ultimately the two boys being held at Devlin’s home.

Devlin had forced Shawn Hornbeck to come with him as he kidnapped Ownby, telling him that by accompanying a kidnapping, he was equally guilty of the crime.

Ben Ownby’s parents have not said much to the press, but stated their relief at having the sentencing over with. "We've been waiting for this moment," said Ben’s mother, Doris. "Now that it's here, it's such a relief."

The prosecutor in the case in Franklin County, one of the jurisdictions that pressed charges against Devlin, told reporters, "This is a predator. This guy is evil. This is evil incarnate," said prosecutor Bob Parks. "You will never see anybody worse than this because this is a guy that preys on our kids."

Both boys have been receiving therapy and counseling since their return. For now, Shawn Hornbeck’s family is just relieved to have their son back, and say that he is making progress and doing as well as can be expected.

"On Jan. 12th, we brought home this scared shell of an 11-year-old boy wrapped in the body of a 15-year-old," said stepfather Craig Akers to reporters. "We can now continue on with our healing, safe in our knowledge that this monster is caged and can hurt our family no more."