Two missing Missouri boys found; man charged

updated 10:41 p.m. ET Jan. 12, 2007

BEAUFORT, Mo. - Police searching a suburban St. Louis home for a boy missing since Monday found him and made an even more startling discovery — a 15-year-old boy missing for more than four years, authorities said Friday.

The stunning development came when both 13-year-old Ben Ownby and 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck were found at an apartment in Kirkwood, miles from the rural locations where the boys disappeared 4 1/2 years apart.

Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke called the discovery “good, unbelievable news” at a news conference on Friday.

Ben vanished from the gravel road near his home in Beaufort, Mo., 60 miles southwest of St. Louis, Monday afternoon. Shawn was last seen in October 2002 riding his bike near his home in Richwoods, Mo., about 50 miles southwest of St. Louis.

The boys were found in an apartment occupied by Michael Devlin, 41, who has been charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping, Toelke said. Devlin is jailed on $1 million bond at a location the sheriff would not disclose.

Toelke said both boys appeared unharmed. Ben appeared somewhat dazed as he walked inside the sheriff's department, where he was reunited with his family Friday night. Hornbeck and his family also have been reunited.

Truck was key to case
Toelke said the break in the case came Thursday night. Kirkwood city police officers were serving a warrant on an apartment complex when they noticed a white truck matching the description of a vehicle authorities had been searching for in the Ownby investigation.

Kirkwood officers contacted the Franklin County Sheriff's Department and determined where the owner of the truck was and then searched Devlin's home.

Huy Richard Mach / St. Louis Post-Dispatch Police escort kidnapping suspect Michael Devlin in Union, Mo., on Friday.

Toelke said authorities were surprised to find another boy who identified himself as Shawn Hornbeck.

Ben's uncle, Loyd Bailie, told The Associated Press he was escorted to the Franklin County Sheriff's Department with Ben's parents. He said Ben was delighted when he saw his parents.

"His eyes lit up like silver dollars," Bailie said.

Everyone broke into tears and Ben's parents embraced him as tightly as they could, Bailie said.

Ben seemed in perfect health, but was hungry. Sheriff's deputies brought in sandwiches and a honey bun and Ben instantly devoured the sweet, Bailie said.

Toelke confirmed that Shawn and his family were reunited but disclosed no details.

In Kirkwood Friday night, a half-dozen law enforcement officials congregated outside the modest brick apartment where Devlin lived. Temporary lights and trailers were set up in the apartment complex courtyard as a cold, driving rain fell.

Another neighbor, Rick Butler, 43, said the FBI came to his door Thursday night and showed a picture of Ben, asking if he had seen him. He said he had not. But he had seen a boy he now believes was Hornbeck.

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