William Ownby

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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.

William Ownby

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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.