I went and looked at the suspect on Utah's sex offender registry.  He has an alias, and he also has a felony convition for indecent exposure.  He also did NOT register as an offender in Missouri.  He apparently was the manager of an Emo's pizza restaurant in Kirkwood, where he lived.

Shawn Hornbeck had been seen at Devlin's apartment numerous times in the past 4 years - meaning that he'd been there since being abducted.

Out of curiosity I went and Mapquested the distance between Kirkwood and Richwoods, Shawn's hometown.

They are 48 miles apart.  Less than an hour's drive away.

For 4 years, he was less than 50 miles away from home.  

Unbelievable.  Truly unbelievable. 

Holy shit! That's great. I've been following the story and watching for the described truck as I've been running the roads. I'm damn glad they found him. Finding the other kid is shocking to say the least.

I've been following the story and watching for the described truck as I've been running the roads.

Me too! I've looked for a white pickup whenever I was about and about.

I'm still a little teary eyed watching the news coverage. I'm not a big believer, Mason, but I do think that there are forces at work in the universe that we don't understand....and I think that this is as close to a miracle as I'm ever going to see.

I will go to bed tonight thanking whatever gods may be for Ben and Shawn's safe return.

the suspect that's being held in the case is a registered sex offender.

for the life of me I just don't get why they parole out these sons a bitches from prison. Seems they just CAN'T WAIT to let them go while they keep dopers for fuckin' ever. For the life of me I will NEVER understand the system! heh, why I remember once (this is unrelated but amounts to the same thing) upon how a time a convicted drunk driver was put on a work release judgment. He got out every morning around 07:00 and had to come in at around 18:00. And his work? HE WAS A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER!

WOW - that's great!

Shovelheat - a drunken school bus driver with work driving privlages!
Well we wouldn't want to stigmatize the poor darling just because of one (dozen) little-itty-bitty mistakes - now would we?

for the life of me I just don't get why they parole out these sons a bitches from prison. Seems they just CAN'T WAIT to let them go while they keep dopers for fuckin' ever

I don't know either, although I have an idea of why - and this is just a theory now, so feel free to shoot me down in flames - but I think a lot of pedophiles can talk a good game and put up a good front.  How many people, after their  neighbor or work colleague has been arrested for possessing kiddie porn or interfering with little boys, say "It never crossed my mind, he seemed like such a nice guy!" or "I would never have guessed that he was like that"?   They're good at putting up a front and they talk a really good game -which is how they get kids to not tell on them after they've been molested by these motherfuckers.

This kid was 50 miles away from his mom and dad for four years, yet he never told on this guy; he never told anyone 'hey, I'm Shawn Hornbeck and I want to go home'....

It would have to be a very convincing lie to make me not want to go home. 

WOW - that's great

It IS great!  It's a fantastic end to an otherwise dreary day!

Wow...that's absolutely amazing.

I think that's what happens to lots of kids that are abducted to strangers--at the mercy of pedophiles. My dad thought that some kids were shipped overseas and such. I've always wondered what happened to Jacob Wetterling from my home state of Minnesota...his mom has run for state office twice now and lost, but there's NEVER been any evidence as to his whereabouts as far as I know. Whoever took him knew what he was doing, that's for sure.

I'm glad that there was a happy ending in your area today though. That's wonderful for all involved.

I think that's what happens to lots of kids that are abducted to strangers--at the mercy of pedophiles

I think so too.  NAMBLA seems to think that there's nothing wrong with that, though.

There is no hell harsh enough for this Devlin bastard. But I am pleased they found the boys alive.

This crime should carry the death penalty. Period. There's nothing ambiguous about it. It wasn't an ex-spouse in a custody thing. If this is found to be what it appears to be, then it should carry the heaviest sentence society has.

There is no hell harsh enough for this Devlin bastard.

I agree.

Shocking. But I am happy that the children are back home. I think countries all over the world must deal with such cases seriously and children must be protected from abuse at the hands of such men.

but I think a lot of pedophiles can talk a good game and put up a good front. How many people, after their neighbor or work colleague has been arrested for possessing kiddie porn or interfering with little boys, say "It never crossed my mind, he seemed like such a nice guy!" or "I would never have guessed that he was like that"? They're good at putting up a front and they talk a really good game -

to a large degree very true. Seems the ones I've known are one of two ways: either VERY sly and manipulative or just plain old weirdos. Some you can spot a mile away (my wife calls it my pervdar, lol) and some would really suprise you. I got lots of stories! One of these days I'll write some of 'em down and tell you in an email.

It's nice to hear something so uplifting these days, instead of endless political bickering on our TV screens.

...and computer screens.