Like much of the nation, I've followed the story of Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby, two boys kidnapped and miraculously recovered in Missouri. Granted, I was a few days late to this media circus, as I was home sick at the time and didn't get a hint of the news until three days after the two boys were recovered.
I really hate to admit it, but the story has transfixed me. It's interesting on so many levels, and I can be interested in a morbidly curious way because, thank God, it didn't happen to me or anyone I know personally.
The story has many facets. Why didn't Shawn Hornbeck run? (That actually doesn't interest me all that much. He was 11 years old at the time, and I think that says it all right there. Not to mention, Devlin worked at a pizza parlor frequented by police. It wouldn't be hard for him to convince a boy he "knew" the police). Other questions linger in the public's mind as well. Did Shawn help kidnap Ben (one report says he did)? What happened to both boys during their captivity (and why do we care when, frankly, it's a private matter and none of our business)? The facet I find really interesting, however, is how the two boys and their families are handling things now from a media standpoint and how the press plays into their recoveries.
Two Roads Diverged and the Vultures Await
The two boys have taken remarkably different paths since their recoveries. Shawn went on Oprah with his parents (which, frankly, doesn't reflect too well on Oprah, especially given that she asked the forbidden question -- the one the child experts say is a big no-no). The website bearing Shawn Hornbeck's name got a makeover. Shawn or someone imitating him opened a myspace account. Then on or around January 28, someone named "Billy" posted a message saying the myspace account would close. The message reads:
Do to some unforeseen circumstances Shawn's myspace will be deleted on January 29 2007 at around 11:50 P.M. PST. Things are just not working out here to communicate with Shawn in a content edited environment by Shawn's staff. But no worries... Shawn has registered at Anonymous Teen (AnonymousTeen.com) a community where teens from around the world can come and chat about what ever they want. Shawn's user name on AnonymousTeen.com is "Shawn". Feel free to send him a private message there if you would like to continue to communicate with him. Thanks, Billy
So, the curious mosy on over to anonymousteen.com and realize, hey, everyone who has joined there joined on or after January 28, 2007. The administrator, a person calling himself "Billy Moses," supposedly "joined" in January, too.
I'm wondering... was this whole "We can't edit myspace, but please go to anonymous teen" bit all just to advertise this brand new site to the millions of people on myspace?
How does one get the simple name "Shawn" on such a site? Well, it helps when there are only a very small number of users (think under 50 as of the time of this blog). Guess who apparently made the first post? Yep, "Shawn." That initial post was in the Fashion section and asked what kind of shoes others liked. "Shawn" gave his favorite as Vans.
Shawn Hornbeck, Inc.
Shawn has multiple websites (shawnhornbeck.com, etc.), a foundation, a new home under construction, and a new online community (or he has some sicko using his name and likeness without permission to promote a website and a radio show, a hypothesis bolstered by the fact that all his myspace photos are those one can find on the web).
In all fairness, Shawn's parents did start the foundation during their search for Shawn, and that was an admirable way of turning their grief into hope and help for others. They have a search and rescue team, and I know how much hard work that is and how expensive it can be. Almost all search and rescue teams buy their own equipment and care for their dogs out of their own pockets.
However, one can't help the curiousness of this post-recovery media bonanza. Shawn has his own "staff" now? Billy Moses (who has a website under his own name and apparently lives in California) has proclaimed himself part of Shawn Hornbeck's "staff" and created an entire community just for Shawn (very possibly without the family's permission). Shawn's family has received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of donations (a donated new home, designer clothes, and a four wheel ATV, for example).
But what of Ben?
The Ownby family, on the other hand, has taken a different approach. They gave a few interviews (and Ben did not appear on Oprah). Then they went away. For a little time, I wondered if the two families have kept their distance because of the dynamics between Shawn and Ben. Though both are victims, if the Shawn did play a hand in Ben's kidnapping, then it's logical to assume that maybe Ben doesn't feel comfortable around Shawn (and at the time of the kidnapping, he wouldn't have known Shawn's identity). Even if that particular rumor is false, it stands to reason that being around Shawn would evoke negative memories.
Back to the separate ways the families have dealt with the aftermath and the media. The Ownby family hasn't, at least as far as anyone knows, gotten any large gifts or donations. When asked what, if any, large gifts have been sent to the Ownby family, Ben's uncle laughed and said, "um, nothing." In fact, when they threw Ben a surprise welcome home party on Saturday, about a dozen people (friends, family, neighbors) chipped in to buy Ben ONE present -- a Wii.
A dozen people had to chip in to buy the kid a Wii? Okay, maybe they didn't have to. Maybe they all wanted to.
The Ownby family seems to have the right perspective, though. Since Ben's recovery, they say, they don't really have any problems. Yes, it's amazing how almost losing a child can give one a whole new perspective on life.
I'm not criticizing Shawn Hornbeck or his family for taking a different approach. I do think they seem to be turning this into Shawn Hornbeck, Inc. However, they have done quite a bit of work with the Foundation (side note: the Foundation it did lose its nonprofit corp status due to some paperwork issues... that's apparently being or has already been resolved). The Hornbeck family has also now gone into seclusion, except for the numerous websites. They are taking some much-needed rest. It's obvious they spent the past four-plus years in a living hell, working themselves to the bone in their search for Shawn and their efforts to help other families of missing children.
The website issue brought to mind a question. Does Ben Ownby have his own website? It doesn't look like it, but someone wishing to remain anonymous did register benownby.com. The site looks like it has nothing to do with Ben Ownby, though. If you click on the graphic at the top of this site (it says KIDNAPPED!) you're sent to a commercial site called "Chick Publications" where you can purchase products via credit card, phone, fax, or mail.
Tsk, tsk to whomever registered that site. C'mon, folks. Really?
Incidentally, if anyone does want to donate to the Ownby family, a Fund was set up at the Union Area Chamber of Commerce just after Ben was kidnapped. That fund is still open, even though he's been recovered. I have no idea if the family even needs any money, and they certainly haven't indicated they have. In fact, the fund hasn't really been publicized by the press since Ben's recovery. (I had to search to find it, and I found it in an old article discussing the search for Ben and the need for donations and volunteers).
The url for more information on how to send donations is
http://www.unionmochamber.org/unionchamber/
You can send checks to:
Union Chamber of Commerce Ownby Family Benefit FundP.O. Box 168Union MO 63084
I think I'll send them a little something. After all, the fact that twelve people chipped in to get the kid one present (a wii) speaks volumes.
UPDATE:
As of 8:45 Pacific Time, the shawn_hornbeck myspace profile is dismantled and, even more interesting, the "Shawn" user at anonymous team has apparently been...as we say in California...terminated (along with the posts, it would seem).
