Update: I just read an article where it has a response from Oprah Winfrey for the heat she is taking for taking part in the continued exploitation of Shawn Hornbeck. Here’s her reply:
“The communications staff for Winfrey’s show responded with a statement noting that the show had been pre-taped on a closed set with no audience present.
“Oprah, who has years of experience interviewing children who have survived trauma, respectfully posed questions first to his parents and aunt – and then to Shawn with his family present – so that they could share their message of hope with other families who have missing children,” the statement said. “As with all guests … it was their prerogative not to answer any questions posed to them.””
Yeah, that’s what this is all about right? It’s not about money or ratings or anything else but the need for Sean and his family to get their “message of hope” out. What a crock and a sorry excuse for an explanation for her behavior. I wonder if it was her child or her niece or nephew if she’d feel the same way. Somehow I doubt it.
“Rona Fields, a Washington D.C., psychologist specializing in traumatized children, said she was troubled at how and where the issue was broached.
“It’s not something I would think a 15-year-old boy would want to have broadcast all over the country,” Fields said. “This impacts on the whole rest of his life, and it makes me cringe to think people would be so careless.””
I’ve been reading with disgust the past few days about this monster Michael Devlin who allegedly has kidnapped at least two boys and is suspected in the disappearance of a third.
It’s pretty hard not to pronounce the guy guilty at this point as the evidence seems overwhelming, but I’m willing to concede that everyone deserves a fair trial and I hope that his comes fast and ends decisively and that after it all, if he’s found guilty, that he is executed.
It sickens me to see again and again and again in the press stories of sexual adult predators who prey on children. There is no crime worse in my mind than the abuse of children and seeing those found guilty of crimes against children end up back on the street after serving time is a tremendous injustice indeed.
As a society we need to send a much stronger message to adults who prey on children. And this message needs to be that if they abduct children and are captured that they will die. What’s more, and this is going to take me into a more controversial area, I believe that an amendment to the constitution should be drafted which would allow the use of cruel and unusual punishment in the case of child abductors. I believe that not only should they be put to death, but that in this rare case torture ought to be permitted.
What good would beating these monsters to near death only to let them live another day for another beating actually accomplish? It would send a more powerful message to the would be abductors about the importance of controlling the demons that drive them to commit the crimes that they do. If such a policy resulted in only a single predator changing his mind about an abduction, this would be worth the torture of 100 others. Even if torturing abductors was largely unlikely to become a viable deterrent in all cases, if even in a minority of cases it helped this would be worth it.
I don’t buy the argument that these monsters are sick or that they can’t control themselves. Something needs to be done to stop these crimes from happening.
And while we are on the topic of exploiting children, I have to add that Oprah Winfrey should be ashamed of herself. Shawn Hornbeck has gone through a four year ordeal, a living hell, and somehow Oprah thinks it’s important less than a week after his ordeal has ended to put the boy on national televison and exploit him further.
And what kind of parents are Shawn Hornbeck’s to participate in this media circus built around their son’s terrible misfortune? How much money did Oprah pay Shawn’s mother and step father to come on National TV and say that they thought their son had been sexually exploited by this predator? It’s tasteless further exploitation of the child and I hope that there is a backlash against Oprah for stooping this this low.
I’m glad to see that some others already are expressing similar distaste for Oprah’s sleazy behavior. ” At least Elizabeth Smart’s smarmy parents waited a month and a half to drag her out to play the harp on “The John Walsh Show” like a little abused, emotionless Muppet,” writes Linda Stasi.
“Shawn, however, looked like he just wanted to die – maybe of shame, maybe of terror, or maybe just because after being held captive by a monster, a child knows when he’s being exploited. And yesterday, he was – in the most legal, sanitized, huggy-feely, disgraceful way.”
Robert Paul Reyes adds, “Disregarding the advice of child advocacy experts, Oprah asks Shawn’s parents on TV if their son was sexually abused. His parents should have refused to answer the question. In fact, if his parents had any common sense and decency they wouldn’t have subjected their son to a TV interview so soon after his long ordeal.”
Shame on you Oprah Winfrey. Shame on you for participating further in this boys ordeal for ratings and to make a buck.
I know I don’t venture off into politics very often on my blog, but this one just tore at my heart. It makes me so angry and it makes me want to cry.
This post is why I love blogging. Additionally, I agree with you.
I am a corrections officer, and I must say that I have the hardest time dealing with the sex offenders.
There is no excuse or defense for one who violates another, especially those who cannot protect themselves.
Jumped on your blog from Scoble’s from photo walk videos a while back. Great stuff. Great pictures.
Re: This post, and specifically:
…” I believe that not only should they be put to death, but that in this rare case torture ought to be permitted. “
I understand, and share, your repulsion and anger. But your response is wrong, for at least three reasons:
1. It has been shown over and over again that there is no correlation between strength of punishment (death penalty) and likelihood of the crime. Death penalty and torture won’t change a thing. It may make you feel good (revenge) but revenge is not justice. In addition, studies have shown that even that, (“feeling good”, in the case of victim’s relatives, after the fact), is dubious at best.
2. By promoting torture, you are condoning the very kind of behavior that you abhor. Again this is revenge, not justice. Judges, (us, ultimately) must be better that the criminals.
3. While I know it may seem far-fetched given this case, history has shown over and over again (sometimes decades later) that innocents were executed. You cannot promote death (even worse, torture) if there is a chance that even one out of millions were wrongly subjected to it.
While wishing the worse for such a guy is instinctive, we can’t carry out on him the very kind of actions we are accusing him of.
Ojrb.
PS: Agree 100% with you about Oprah and Co.
I’m with you! Such things are sickening!
I have to agree with Ojrb here on the punishments. I’m frustrated and angry, and will be even more so if he gets off on a technicality (if he’s guilty). But, for me anyway, I know that he will get his punishment – the one he truly deserves. I believe our job is to keep people like that from doing this again. Which means prison, but not torture, or even death. If it’s wrong for him, it’s wrong for us.
I agree completely about Oprah and his parents, though. Poor kid.
Thomas,
I agree with you on everything here except for the torture. Torture can be recovered from. Sexual Abuse cannot. These monsters need to be shown that it is completely abhorrent to the rest of the world, and the rest of the world need to be shown that the decent human beings see that this is serious enough to have irreversible consequences. I say they should have their penises and testicles surgically removed so therefore their weapons are then removed (although their minds are also a major part of their arsenal). They then get to spend the rest of their lives in prison with the shame of what has been removed from them. If they are ever released, they can live in the world without their weapons and be permanently branded a sexual predator.
As for Oprah, why are you surprised by this? All of the talk shows exploit every single person they have on (whether ‘normal’ people or celebrities) and as per usual it is all about greed. But it is the public that suck it up. They are driving the demand for this type of disgusting viewing.
I live in the UK and see everyday what the tabloids do to the subjects of their articles and pictures, but if people stopped buying the papers because they do not agree with what the tabloids are doing, then the papers would quickly change their tactics. I refuse to buy, or even flip through these trashy poor excuses for journalism on the grounds that it will only encourage the bastards further. Unfortunately our society creates the demand. You hear it all the time, people complaining about the treatment of the subjects, whilst still flipping through the paper and then further spreading the word about what they had seen.
Robert Scoble pointed out a good point regarding racism, if you do not openly disagree with racist comments, you are making it acceptable. This is the same issue. If you do not openly disagree with what is being done by the shows like Oprah, then you are allowing it to continue.
Been reading your blog for quite some time, but if it’s one thing I can’t stand it’s people who loves the legality of murdering others.
Thomas, you are a nazi, and I will no longer read your blog.
Cincerely,
Go f*ck yourself.
Maybe the torture thing is a little overboard. I don’t know. But I’m not sure that I completely buy the argument that extreme punishment cannot be a deterant.
When I watch that show “To Catch a Predator” it sickens me. And then when you see what happens to these men who are are soliciting underage sex online it’s shameful. Probation, two years in prison, one year in prison, three years in prison. All of these sentences really mean half of that time at best.
In the town where I live one of the higher profile predators, Dr. Maurice Wolin, was recently caught trying to arrange sex with a young girl in Petaluma. He has hired himself a high powered attorney and I’ll be seriously surprised if he gets one year in jail. When you look at the number of sexual predators that this show easily arranges meetings with you must realize that for every one that is caught thousands of others are not.
And for many of the men caught of course this cannot be thier first offense.
As a society we do not deal with these people as harshly as we should. This frustrates me to no end.
The worst of them of course are like Devlin who actually not only abuse children but take them away from their families.
There is no greater hell to a parent than knowing something bad has happened to their children. This is a form of psychological torture.
On the show “To Catch a Predator” many of the people that they arrange to meet young children chicken out and don’t show. Some even drive there, then go home, then drive back another day. I do not believe that these people cannot be detered. I believe that what keeps the one’s away is in part the consequences of consumating their actions.
By increasing the penalties associated with abusing children, even if you only deterred one single predator, I think it would have been worth it.
By the way, I also think that they should take all of the money away from the predators that are captured. That they should sell their houses, deplete their bank accounts, etc. and use this money to fund more prosecution of other predators. Maurice Wolin is a doctor with tons of money and a multi million home and has hired one of the most expensive lawyers he can find.
If he’s guilty, in addition to prison he should lose the money that he’s worked hard to earn in his life thus far.
We need to send a more powerful message to would be predators that the consequences are dire and that the days of a slap on the wrist are over.
In terms of Oprah, yes, of course, she exploits people for ratings all of the time. As do the rest of them. But I think it’s one thing to exploit an adult. I think it’s another thing to exploit a child. It’s a far worse thing. And especially a child who has just gone through four years of living hell. This is calous and wrong and it makes me angry. I hope it backfires on her and I hope she publicly apologizes for it and I hope that other kids in the future are not exploited this way by the media.
This reminds me of the movie “A Time To Kill”. As a father of a little girl, I can certainly feel those emotions, and feel the rage, but I also believe that at some point we will have to defend our actions. I can only hope that the ultimate judge in this case feels my same distaste.
“And this message needs to be that if they abduct children and are captured that they will die.”
Yes, because capital punishment has been such an effective deterrent for murder. Not.
i am a parent of young children, and I am haunted by the possibility of something like this happening to them. But I believe violence is wrong. If the violence is condoned by the State, it does not make it any more right. If anything, like a kid who is beaten and in turn becomes a bully, it just confirms to those of a socialpathic temperament that might makes right after all. Is that what you want them to think? Are we really nothing but talking monkeys?
Mr. Hawk, you’re a dad.. I’m a dad too of three great kids. I recently had a wakeup call and took my kids pix off of Flickr… the most popular of my pix was my youngest son in a diaper. That’s kinda sick.
So, these twisted people who prey on others, particularly the most innocent among us… I wish there was some truth in sentencing (at least). And, then, I wish further that there was some kind of equity to sentencing as well.
As for the death penalty, torture, etc… Nah…
Devlin should be put away for life. Not executed. Capital punishment is irrevocable and has no proven effect.
“it is not prudent to accept the hypothesis that capital punishment deters murder to a marginally greater extent than does the threat and application of the supposedly lesser punishment of life imprisonment”
(from a study conducted for the UN)
It is always interesting to read/hear, “there are studies, blah, blah.”
Which studies clearly indicate that capital punishment is not a deterrent? Per capita murders in Texas are significantly less than they are in non-death penalty states, and Texans aren’t afraid to enforce their law. Even in California, our rates are higher than Texas. Of course that’s because we’re afraid to enforce our laws.
If you state a study exists, then tell us which study.
Anonymous said: “Which studies clearly indicate that capital punishment is not a deterrent? Per capita murders in Texas are significantly less than they are in non-death penalty states, and Texans aren’t afraid to enforce their law”
Really?:
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/php/article.php?scid=12&did;=168
Per country (USA with death penalty 24th – UK without death penalty 46):
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita
I have to agree with Ojrb.
I agree that he should be in prison for MANY MANY years, but I do not quite agree with the death penalty.
Yes, Oprah is horrible.
Why couldn’t she have been more like the lovely Bill O’Reilly?
Bill only blamed Shawn himself for not escaping, and claimed that he must have enjoyed himself, and that’s why he stayed with Devlin.
That was a much more well rounded and much less exploitative thing to do than Oprah’s hellish interview, right?
Anonymous. Bill O’Reillly is a jackass as well. I was very disappointed to hear him say that.
A post and comment thread filled with anger, hypocrisy, bloodlust and ignorance.
Most people can see what advantage a criminal seeks in committing crimes: theft, fraud, even murder have their rationales that we can at least understand if not agree with. I think most people will also admit that they can’t see the gain that a sexual abuser gets, and in the end I think we have to admit these people have a mental illness and need to be stopped first and treated second. The idea of punishment makes about as much sense as punishing schizophrenics or the depressed with violence. Get over your emotions, find reason and compassion and you will find people who are desperately broken and in need of help. Then again, I’m sure most of the pro-death posters here would gladly step over someone passed out in the street so they could cluck their tongues at the latest headline.
Yay! Let’s punish others by relishing in our own sadism! I mean nothing says “advanced society” quite like wiping your ass with 230 years of enlightened jurisprudence! You’re a fucking genius!
Also, what a bold stance coming out against child molesters/abductors/abusers. I expect the pro-child abuse lobby to artfully craft their retort at any moment now.
What’s next? A rambling polemic about how the Beatles are your favorite band? Ballsy!
I agree with Thomas on some points and in this case I think what happened and the amount of force used to secure these boys was horrid. These boys didn’t have a chance. 6’4 300 pound man against young defenseless boys… It makes one sick to imagine the horrors Shawn went through for 4 years…and what Ben went through the 5 days he was with that vicious animal. A lot of times these sex ofenders have felt powerless in their childhoods and lives and were victims themselves…not defending them just saying that I have worked with them and their backgrounds are heartbreaking. We live in a fallen world that was not meant to be this way by God. There is hope though for a peaceful eternal life under God’s reign though so don’t lose hope. Shawn and Ben are going to need prayers and Michael Devlin needs to be kept away from children while on this earth. These boys may be alive though he was not kind for forcing them into a sick perverse “relationship” with him. He needs to selleverything he has and give it to Shawn, Ben and their families…And stay in a cell without access to kids.
Yes I agree that Bill O’Reilly is a total innsensitive — about Shawn Hornbeck. Something about his judgements and assumptions about why Shawn didn’t leave…after most likely being tortured and robbed of his free will speaks of something way unfeeling and lacking in Bill. My ex is of the same mindset as Bill when it comes to shawn and it infuriates me. He’s thinking from a male macho perspective that men should be tough yet neither one of them were kidnapped by force with a gun when they were 11 and 13 years old now were they?
Yes I agree that Bill O’Reilly is a total innsensitive — about Shawn Hornbeck. Something about his judgements and assumptions about why Shawn didn’t leave…after most likely being tortured and robbed of his free will speaks of something way unfeeling and lacking in Bill. My ex is of the same mindset as Bill when it comes to shawn and it infuriates me. He’s thinking from a male macho perspective that men should be tough yet neither one of them were kidnapped by force with a gun when they were 11 and 13 years old now were they?
In general I agree with you, but on the death penalty; these people should be placed in the general population and never released. These offenders get the appropriate justice in jail and are viewed as the lowest form of life in prison, which of course, they are.
I too agree with Thomas Hawk’s initial post (with the rational subtraction of the torture aspects that he himself later applies).
However, in regard to Ojrb and dave (and others) I feel compelled to point out the obvious…
1.- We don’t have a system where a “life sentence” is applied – even where it is appropriate. There is little assurance that can be made to an abuse survivor that their abuser will not be able to “reach” them in the future.
2.- In many abuse cases the perpetrator usurps “victim” status by citing a horrific past and / or mental illness in hopes of pleading insanity (which may well see them released even sooner).
3.- The points above make obtaining survivor testimony that much more difficult (in addition to societal shame inflicted by the likes of O’Reilly and his ilk).
What kind of messages do we send to the survivors of such abuse when we (as a society) make excuses for the offender’s behavior (see #2, above)?
Pointing to studies that show that punishments and/or the death penalty are not deterrent seems very enlightened when applied to other categories of offense; in the context of sex offenders it is invalid.
There is an overwhelming body of evidence* that demonstrates that sex offenders are, almost by definition, repeat offenders; in many cases, with an increasing level of transgression.
Deterrence via fear of penalty is explained very well by Thomas Hawk in a later comment that references “To Catch a Predator”.
The bottom line for me is this:
In clear-cut cases (such as this one seems to be) society’s first mandate is to stop the cycle by imprisonment until death.
We should not leave survivors of this abuse to spend the rest of their lives wondering when their abusers will be granted their “get-out-of-jail-free” card. We owe these kids at least that much.
*Don’t waste time challenging me to cite – simple google searches will confirm that this evidence exists.
Yes, I believe every bullshit cite coughed up by the internet… the world’s source for true truthiness. Logic wins again!
Mike Devlin is a monster!!!!
Folks, make no mistake about it. He sexually abused poor little defenseles Shawn Devlin and would have certainly killed him once his replacement, litle Ben was broken, and broken in. don’t ever forget about the nights of screaming, it was going to be re-enacted with Ben. Don’t think for a minute that he did nothing but play video games with Shawn. You’d have to be the dumbest bastard on the planet to think that.
Shawn couldn’t leave because of the physchological chains conecting him to Devlin based on the tremendous depth of fear instilled in him. If he does not get put away for life, then upon his release from prison I am certain that the hunt for him will be on. Someone will kill his fat ass. I hope he gets life and gets to receive form the inmates for the next twenty years what he did to Shawn. I’d pay to see it happens if I could.
History clearly shows that our justice system does not protect the victim but the purp, it must be changed else people will rise up and take care of the matter themselves. This cannot go on, our children must be protected.
We need tougher laws!!!!!
Does anyone recall the Steve Stayner case from back in the 70’s? It eerily parallels Shawn Hornbecks case. Even though Ken Parnell had a long wrap sheet for child molestation did you know that he served less time, 5 years!!! for the seven year abduction and continuous rape of Steven Stayner. He admitted raping Steven 3,000 times and said the only thing that troubled him was when steven bled during anal sex.
Michael Devlin may have no previous record on file with police but be rest assured that at 41 he has an un-documented history and do not be surprised if he has committed haenous crimes against children in the past. He did’t just start with Shawn, he just hadn’t been caught until now. And don’t let his mild manner and calm demeanor during jail house interviews and legal proceedings fool you, h’e a monster.
If that was my son, Michael Devlin would not make it to trial and I would do the time. I honestly do not think that there will be closure for Shawn until Devlin’s big, fat lifeless body is removed form prison and burned.
Devlin needs to do the right thing and admit to his sick acts on Shawn and go to prison forever to never come out.
So many appear to want to play the part of executioner here before any of the actual facts are known.
While I agree wholeheartedly that what Devlin did was wrong in regards to kidnapping, there has been no indication of any sexual abuse whatsoever. The question was merely asked of the parents of Shawn, who speculated at best. They don’t seem too eager to find out the details but are quick to state that the death penalty is deserved.
The one thing that everyone seems to be forgetting is that Shawn is alive after being missing for 4 years. Devlin apparently fed him, clothed him, furnished him with a new bike and video games. This does not sound like a person who merely kept someone captive for their own personal pleasures. Shawn appears to be in good physical health. He showed no signs of physical abuse, he looked healthy, and had ample opportunity to leave if he chose too. Yes Shawn was the victim, everyone keeps saying that he was a terrified child, but kids are smarter than we actually give them credit for.
Shawn’s parents are quick to point out that people were aware that Shawn was living with Devlin and are disgusted that they didn’t come forward years earlier. Yet, Shawn has said nothing about whether there were any other boys involved with Devlin over the past 4 years. He certainly hasn’t come forward. Did Shawn make any attempt to help Ben escape? It does not appear so.
God tells us “thou shalt not kill”, it is not our place to make that determination. God was merciful to Shawn and brought him back to his parents. Maybe Devlin should be shown some mercy too, because there are worse things he could have done. He is not like Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Casey and others of that like. Shawn came home.
In response to Ryan’s overly sarcastic remark regarding “bullshit cites” and his bending Mr. Colbert’s pithy aphorism (“truthiness”) beyond recognition; so as to apply to the internet community as a whole…
I present for consideration a small sampling of evidence (as opposed to truthy bellyfeel)
One excellent analysis:
http://www.csom.org/pubs/recidsexof.html
and another:
http://www.ipt-forensics.com/journal/volume10/j10_6.htm
and another:
http://www.nsvrc.org/
While the major take-away in each of these would seem to indicate low rates, they all qualify those rates by reference to restrictive definitions of “recidivision” and make reference to the appalling, but not surprising, rates of underreporting.
Note that each of these sites include additional citations to primary research materials.
The bottom line remains that sexual offenses against children are inappropriately tolerated and arguably encouraged by society’s unwillingness to look this issue square in the face and say that it is wrong and will not be tolerated.
So tolerated you get a Shiv Special™ in prison for your troubles as a kiddy diddler.
The moral panic brought on by these stories is just an excuse for the blogosphere to lean at windmills.
Oh, and here’s my truthy cite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic
I hope you don’t call yourself a Christian since you believe in revenge and killing rather than forgiveness. Devlin had probably a worse childhood than you can imagine and deserves help, not punishment.
I agree that what he did to these kids is awful. Even if, and that is a big IF, he didn’t molest them (and if some believe that I have a lake in Tennessee to sell you) he should get life w/o parole for the kidnappings only. I would not put him through the dp because both boys are alive. I am a believer in the dp but only for 1st degree murder and some extreme treason cases like the Rosenbergs.
BUT…who knows, maybe the perp (I don’t wanna write his name) did kill before, LE will find out if he did or not. If he did, sayonara! Dp all the way.
Watch the defense’s tricks, which will claim that poor perp had no friends to play videogames with so he took them. With some stupid ploy like the Twinkee def. or the Molson Dry def. I believe they”ll try to orient their def. like that…But I don’t think any sane jury will buy it.
Thomas,
I completely agree with you on all points. I especially agree that if the punishments for the crime were harsher, more permanent, that it would deter some offenders. Right now the punishment is so small that it is no deterrent at all. I don’t think a year or two in jail is mush punishment at all, it is actually pathetic for the crimes these people committ. I believe that they should be castrated, in a humane way, fine but the drive (testosterone) that pushes them should be taken away. Further punishment would be better of course but at the very least society could make these monsters impotent and no longer a danger. Most predators interviewed are very clear in that they will do it again…sexual need and drive are very powerful forces. I also believe that their sickness can not be healed just like you can’t make a heterosexual gay and vise versa or make some man attracked to buxom blondes start to like small brunettes. YOu ca not change someone’s orientation. Also, I have a friend that was given steroids for a medical condition and she was shocked at the powerful anger and drive she felt from the surge in her testosterone level…she said she felt like “kicking everyones ass all the time”. She is normally a very kind and gentle person. Just some thoughts…but please know I think you are right on the money. What is done to these poor children makes me sick and the punishments make me even sicker. As a mother of 3 small boys this world has become a very scary place, a place to be constantly watching out for. Why do these sickos get to go back into society?????
I agree Michael Devlin is a sick evil monster. My heart goes out to Shawn, as it is so apparent that he has been broken. My husband thinks I’m obsessed with this story. I have a son and I am a Christian and I my initial reaction would be to kill him myself like that one Guy did in the airport (don’t remember the case). However Devlin WILL BE TORTURED IN PRISON.
Inmates don’t take kindly to petafiles. Yeah, Devlin is a big guy, but that doesn’t matter. Then after going through that for a nimber of years then kill him.
I like O’reilly BUT that statement he made about shawn, it just shows he doesn’t know the first thing about child psychology and he isn’t a very compassionate person. My husband made a very similar statement to me and if looks could kill he would have been dead. I have cried praying for this child and have had nightmares of him and what he must have went through. It just breaks my heart.
Ryan,
Re: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moral_panic
“A moral panic is a reaction by a group of people based on the false or exaggerated perception that some cultural behavior or group, frequently a minority group or a subculture, is dangerously deviant and poses a menace to society”
Do you seriously propose that kidnapping and child abuse is “cultural behavior” and/or a “subculture”? And further, that that the above isn’t dangerously deviant???
Apologists for pedophiles???
Too bizarre, and just plain wrong.
All I’m saying is; remember Jeff Dahlmer & a broken boomhandle?
Just think about it, there are 975,000
pedophiles online daily coming into our homes just trying to get a chance with our children. Most pedophiles have an average of 150 victims during their lifetime and most never get caught. That is alot of traumatized children. When is the government going to do more for the abused children?
It took 25 years to get the Adam Walsh Child Protection act passed to have stricter rules on these predators and it still is
it not enough to protect the children. Shawn Hornbeck was found
alive but what a price he has to pay for riding his bike at 11 years old.
I think…..he should have already gone to court and already been executed. He’s guilty of kidnapping. Kill him. If he was already dead, and we did this with every single person like him, guilty without a doubt, with in a week or so, you can not tell me that it would not become a deterrant.
Just today I was reading about another freak like Devlin that was convicted of kidnapping and rape and was sentenced to 20 years. He was released after serving 8 and with in one year of his release guess what…..he got his hands on some sweet little 12 year old girl.
He should have been executed.
If we executed these freaks IMMEDIATELY….it would become a deterrant. Of course, I’m talking about the ones who are guilty beyond a shadow of doubt. The police took Shawn from this freaks apartment. EXECUTE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you automatically say that these types of crimes are punishable by death, what would be the deterrent from keeping any other freak from murdering a child to hide his crimes?
What he did to those children was repulsive, but he did not murder them. They will have to live with what was done to them for the rest of their lives. Devlin will no doubt find punishment from behind prison walls and we can only hope that he lives the rest of his life in a hell that is similar to what those children are living. The difference is they did nothing to deserve it.
If Devlin is found to have committed other crimes where killed other children, then I believe that the death penalty would be in order, otherwise, I think he should be locked up for the rest of his life.
As far as Oprah goes, what do you expect? Yes she should know better, but if you watched it, maybe you should be just as guilty as her for exploiting Shawn.
I believe all rapists, murders, and pedophiles should not only be put to death but it would also make nice entertainment to be brocast live on pay per view.
To all those “bleeding heart liberals” out there, I say to you: “What better place to commit a crime than here in the United states?” If you don’t believe that the death penality is a deterent, then name one person who has been put to death that has committed another crime afterwards?
There is not greater crime than that committed against a child. Call it revenge if you want, but that is one less criminal who will be supported by my tax dollars. It just seems that criminals have more rights than victims.
Sickos like Michael Devlin do not just happen – they become what they are by chosing to and sadly, our society makes this pretty easy to do. Child porn, the sanctioning of sodomy by sanctioning the homosexual experience and marriage plays a role here. It is becoming increasingly OK to engage in and partake in this type of behavior for adults and because of its sick, perverted and self indulgent nature, to be pushed down to younger and younger ages over time. (And heaven help anyone who dares to not be politically correct and go along with this mentality!) Executing such predators after-the-fact or keeping them in prison for life may prevent them from being a repeat offender, however, what is preventing more boys and men from heading down the same path? When porn, child porn and sodomy are available and acceptable with no consequences within our society, what do we think is going to happen? In my mind, prevention thru moral education is far more powerful than trying to figure out what to do with the sick bastard after he has ruined countless lives, including those of precious, innocent children, in the pursuit of his perveted sexual pleasure.
I think that there are very bad people out there. Saying that I am one of them who has pedofile tandencies. I didnt think going up as a boy that i would ever be different maybe being molested by my sister had a hand in it but thats no excuse for my actions. I agree with how terrible people can be and the wrong they commit. But think like men are attracted to women some people are attracted to kids. Just stop and imagine that everywhwere youd go that would haunt you. I know how this feels I have gone through this. This is a sickness most people I think who are this way dont want to be and out of fear they want to cling to the love of others who ever it’ll be and that is their downfall. This is a sickness and nobody is helping to change this. I feel to keep my future kids safe and the children everywhere there should be a facility to help people who have these pedofile tendencies. But there isnt one but your right because all of them should be killed so why? So there will be no more were people not perfect forms of God I feel sorry for God he has to watch not only the ones who hurt children but also the victims who will replace the pedofiles and the people like you who melt their souls in denile and hate. So hate away pal see how far that gets us after that email me to comment forgiveness we all need and guidence call god. needhelpfindinggod@yahoo.com
Regarding a person having pedophilia feelings – this is NOT a sickness. Simply put, it is sin. Certainly it is sick as in perverted and deviant from normal, but it is not a sickness per se. Sickness implies that we must succumb regardless of our will or choice. And how is sin dealt with – through accepting full responsibility for yourself and your actions and continually struggling with yourself to do the right thing – turning away (repenting) from it, being forgiven thru baptism (to rise and walk in newness of life) and committing yourself to a life of doing what God wants you to do NOT what you want to do. The Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” everyone struggles with something! Everyone has the opportunity AND choice to turn away from sin. Read the Bible. The Bible also says that if we seek truth we will find it. Anyone having been molested needs to get the appropriate help to deal with that.
(Quote)
Anonymous said…
I believe all rapists, murders, and pedophiles should not only be put to death but it would also make nice entertainment to be brocast live on pay per view.
To all those “bleeding heart liberals” out there, I say to you: “What better place to commit a crime than here in the United states?” If you don’t believe that the death penality is a deterent, then name one person who has been put to death that has committed another crime afterwards?
There is not greater crime than that committed against a child. Call it revenge if you want, but that is one less criminal who will be supported by my tax dollars. It just seems that criminals have more rights than victims.
I could not agree more!!! Except for the “bleeding heart liberals” line, as I am a Liberal myself. 😛
(Quote)
Anonymous said…
…the sanctioning of sodomy by sanctioning the homosexual experience and marriage plays a role here. It is becoming increasingly OK to engage in and partake in this type of behavior for adults and because of its sick, perverted and self indulgent nature, to be pushed down to younger and younger ages over time.
What CONSENTING ADULTS do in the privacy of their own home has absolutely no bearing on this case or any case involving children or forced sexual acts.
Stop blaming the gay community as a whole for every crime committed that involves same sex acts. There are far more sex crimes committed every day involving men raping women than men raping other men.
Bottom line, there are sick depraved people out there who do terrible things and it has nothing to do with race, religion, or sexual orientation.
(Quote)
Anonymous said…
I think that there are very bad people out there. Saying that I am one of them who has pedofile tandencies. I didnt think going up as a boy that i would ever be different maybe being molested by my sister had a hand in it but thats no excuse for my actions. I agree with how terrible people can be and the wrong they commit. But think like men are attracted to women some people are attracted to kids. Just stop and imagine that everywhwere youd go that would haunt you. I know how this feels I have gone through this. This is a sickness most people I think who are this way dont want to be and out of fear they want to cling to the love of others who ever it’ll be and that is their downfall. This is a sickness and nobody is helping to change this. I feel to keep my future kids safe and the children everywhere there should be a facility to help people who have these pedofile tendencies. But there isnt one but your right because all of them should be killed so why? So there will be no more were people not perfect forms of God I feel sorry for God he has to watch not only the ones who hurt children but also the victims who will replace the pedofiles and the people like you who melt their souls in denile and hate. So hate away pal see how far that gets us after that email me to comment forgiveness we all need and guidence call god. needhelpfindinggod@yahoo.com
I just want to know what state you live in so I know never to move there with my children! That is the scariest justification I think I have ever heard or read.
We’re supposed to feel sorry for the poor poor pedophile who just couldn’t help himself rather than the innocent little child who has just been robbed of their innocence? I think not.
Devlin must pay dearly, even die if necessary, for his crimes. Certainly, the long history of him preying on children and building up to the horrific acts of recent times is not new and Shawn is not an isolated case, and only he, the victims, and the Lord truly knows how many kids have suffered at his hand. The fact that he hadn’t been caught til now doesn’t excuse or dismiss anything he may have done before and the fact that he was caught red-handed with not one but two kidnapped children in his apartment shoud mean life without parole and general population. There is no way this animal can be allowed to walk among society ever again.
Sean has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of and you should not be outraged that he is able to speak out. I wish more abuse victims would talk immediately. They should not keep what happened to them a secret, they should not have to delay telling their side of the story. According to your logic, a family that has been traumatized by the kidnapping of their baby should not go on tv stating so to help get their baby back. Sean did NOTHING. He was a victim and should talk about it whenever he wants. The sooner the better. It’s because of people like you that victims feel ashamed and afraid to come forward. The people who make fun of the victims are the only ones who should keep their mouths shut.
All bleeding heart liberals please move to Canada.
What really fries me is that the media paraded these two kids before the public without considering the possible liteny of charges made against their abductor. Now that charges include forced sodomy, these kids will have to carry this stigma no matter what schools they attend. Everyone will know who they are and what was done to them. Imagine the torment that will be directed towards them by their teenaged classmates.
Media idiots!
I totally agree with everyone, He should be put to death for what he did. Not a quick death but a torturous one like he did to his caotives. I am a 30 yr old woman who has followed this story of ryan and has even shed tears for him when i found out what he endoured. I feel nothing for this monster Devlin and anyone who is like him. I also agree with the contraversy with the oprah show, Everythings about ratings and money, even peoples own feelings dont matter to her. Thanx oprah we see now what your all about!