missing-children amw case file

AMW Case File

William Ownby


William Ownby Missouri,Teen,Home,Safe,Accused,Kidnapper,Faces,Charges Missouri Teen Home Safe, Accused Kidnapper Faces Charges

After being found with another missing boy, Shawn Hornbeck, William "Ben" Ownby has been returned safely to his family. Their alleged abductor faces kidnapping charges in both cases, and police say another missing child case is now on their radar with the same man as a possible suspect. »The Full Story



Last updated January 12, 2007

Related Links:

Shawn Hornbeck was recovered safely with Ben Ownby »
Police say Ben's kidnapping is similar to another boy's »

missing children,William Ownby,Missing,Children,kidnapping,police William Ownby

Teen Disappears Steps From Home

In Beaufort, Missouri, searchers from the Franklin County Sheriff's Department and the FBI, along with local volunteers, scoured the area for some sign of missing teenager William "Ben" Ownby.  Authorities also pursued more than 500 leads, but turned up nothing.

On Tuesday, January 9, 2007, a day after Ben's disappearance, the Franklin County Sheriff's Department issued an Amber alert. Two FBI profilers were brought in to try to create a profile of Ben's abductor.

The investigation primarily focused on a beat-up white pickup truck, which police believe was the vehicle that Ben's kidnapper drove. 

Police Say Teenage Boy Abducted After School

It was a normal school day for 13-year-old William "Ben" Ownby. On Monday January 8, 2007, at around 3:30p., he got off his school bus and started to walk home. However, police say he never made it there.

A truck was seen in the area around the time of Ownby's disappearance. The vehicle was described as a Nissan or Chevrolet compact pickup with a camper shell and large rust spots on it. The truck was last seen Eastbound on Highway 50 from Beaufort, Mo.

Ben's parents say that he is a straight "A" student and a Boy Scout with a passion for books and computer games.


missing children,William Ownby,Missing,Children,kidnapping,police William Ownby

Recovered; Jan 12, 2007

Alleged Abductor Faces Charges


13-year-old William "Ben" Ownby, who disappeared on Monday, January 8, 2007, was discovered Friday afternoon, January 12, at an apartment in Kirkwood, Missouri. He was found with Shawn Hornbeck, a teenager who had been missing since 2002.

Prosecutors have charged Michael Devlin with one count of kidnapping in the first degree in the abduction of Ben Ownby, and with two counts of kidnapping and armed criminal action in the abduction of Shawn Hornbeck.

Police are now looking at similarities between the kidnappings of Ben and Shawn, and the abduction of Charles Arlin Henderson in 1991. Henderson was taken while riding his bike in Moscow Mills when he was 11 years old. He's never been found.


White Truck Was A Red Flag


Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke says Thursday afternoon, Kirkwood Police Officers spotted a truck at the apartment that matched the vehicle a teen saw the day Ownby disappeared. Officers questioned Michael Devlin, and said he became increasingly agitated as they started to ask more specific questions. Police and FBI agents went to the apartment Friday morning after Devlin left for work, and that's when they found the two boys.


missing children,William Ownby,Missing,Children,kidnapping,police William Ownby

Sex:
Male
Race:
White
Age at Disappearance:
13
Current Age:
16
Height:
4'10"
Weight:
100 lbs.
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair):
  • Brown
Eyes:
  • Blue
  • Glasses
Last Seen:
  • Beaufort , MO
  • Schoolmates saw an unidentified man push Ben into a beatup white compact pickup truck
Other Possible Locations:
  • Beaufort , MO
Vehicle To Look For:
  • White compact truck possibly Nissan or Chevrolet pick up with camper shell and large rust spots on truck. Last seen eastbound on Highway 50 from Beaufort, Mo.

missing children,William Ownby,Missing,Children,kidnapping,police William Ownby


Photos

William "Ben" Ownby as he's escorted by police just after his rescue from a home in Kirkwood, Mo.

Latest Updates

Police: Small Child Found In Landfill Is Aveion photo
As police zeroed in on the location of missing toddler Aveion Lewis, investigators searched an area landfill thought to have the trash collected from...
»The Full Story
Recovered Photos Concern Police photo
New photos recovered from Elizabeth Johnson's cell phone show her infant son Gabriel possibly holding a medicine bottle. Police are concerned that his...
»The Full Story
America's Most Wanted with John Walsh Loading
America's Most Wanted with John Walsh Loading

AMW Quick Search

Americas Most Wanted

AMW is easy! Simply type the first name, last name or "moniker" of the person or case you are looking for and the search box will retrieve a list of all the cases in our system. Wait for the drop down box to appear with a list of possible matches and select the name of the case that you were looking for and click GO. You must type in a minimum of 4 letters.