Proceedings reveal details of Devlin case

CLAYTON, Mo. -- Michael Devlin pleaded guilty to dozens of child kidnapping and sodomy charges in two court hearings Tuesday, in proceedings that revealed how he kidnapped Shawn Hornbeck and turned him into a captive who was forced to stay alive by following Devlin's horrific orders.

He began the same effort with a second boy before the victims were discovered alive in Devlin's apartment.

Devlin received dozens of life sentences after his pleas, assuring he will spend the rest of his life in prison for kidnapping and sexually abusing young Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby.

The hearings were part of an elaborate deal his attorneys struck in four jurisdictions where Devlin was charged with more than 80 counts, including sexual assault, kidnapping and attempted murder.

Prosecutors laid out new evidence showing that Devlin tortured Shawn Hornbeck during his first days in captivity and made the boy promise not to flee in order to stay alive. It was a "devil's bargain" that kept Shawn under Devlin's sway for more than four years, even as the boy had phone and Internet access, said Shawn's stepfather, Craig Akers.

"We know now the details that made him not run away," Akers said after the hearings.

Devlin pleaded guilty to six counts in Washington County earlier Tuesday, accepting the maximum sentence of three life terms in prison plus 60 years for kidnapping, sexually assaulting and attempting to murder Shawn in 2002.

During that hearing, Devlin -- standing just feet away from Shawn's weeping parents -- admitted in graphic detail how he abducted Shawn in 2002 and described the point at which Shawn apparently turned from a kidnap victim into a powerless captive.

After Shawn was abducted at gunpoint while riding his bike in rural Washington County, Devlin took the then-11-year-old boy to his apartment in suburban St. Louis where he repeatedly sexually assaulted Shawn. Days later, Devlin took Shawn back to rural Washington County in his pickup truck, apparently intent on killing the boy.

He said he pulled Shawn from his truck and began to strangle him. Shawn resisted.

"I attempted to kill [Shawn], and he talked me out of it," Devlin said.

Devlin stopped the choking, but then sexually assaulted the boy again. Prosecutors say it was at that point that Shawn told Devlin he would do whatever was asked of him to stay alive.

In St. Louis County, prosecutors said Devlin kept Shawn tied for weeks to a futon or a couch, with duct tape over his mouth. Devlin left the boy alone when he went to work at a pizzeria during the days and returned at night to repeatedly sexually assault him.

Prosecutors say Devlin also made a videotape of himself torturing Shawn while the boy screamed for him to stop.

Prosecutors also said that Devlin began abusing Ben Ownby immediately after abducting him Jan. 8. Devlin abused the boy each day until authorities found Ben and Shawn in Devlin's apartment and rescued them Jan. 12, as Devlin, a pizzeria manager, worked the day shift at his shop.

Later in the day Tuesday, Devlin pleaded guilty to 71 counts in St. Louis County Circuit Court -- two counts of kidnapping and 69 counts of forcible sodomy of Ben and Shawn. He was then sentenced to 18 consecutive life sentences in St. Louis County.

Rupp said he was satisfied with the sentences. "You heard it from his own mouth. You've heard what kind of a monster he is."