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Man Says Boy Talked Him Out Of Murder

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By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD, The Associated Press

Published: October 10, 2007

POTOSI, Mo. - A former pizzeria manager said Tuesday that he attempted to kill a boy he kidnapped and held captive in his apartment, but the child persuaded him not to do it.

Michael Devlin, 41, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and attempting to kill Shawn Hornbeck, and he received multiple life sentences. He pleaded guilty Monday to kidnapping another boy and is expected to enter more guilty pleas in other courts.

During Tuesday's hearing, Devlin - standing just feet away from Shawn's weeping parents - admitted in graphic detail how he abducted Shawn in 2002. He described the point at which the boy apparently turned from being an abduction victim to a captive forced to stay alive by following Devlin's horrific orders.

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

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 said it was at that point that Shawn told Devlin he would do whatever was asked of him to stay alive.

'This boy made this contract, this deal with the devil, only to survive,' Washington County prosecutor John Rupp said.

Devlin kidnapped William 'Ben' Ownby in January, and police who found Ben four days after he was taken were shocked to discover 15-year-old Shawn in Devlin's apartment.

Devlin pleaded guilty Monday to one charge of child kidnapping and one charge of armed criminal action in Ben's abduction.

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