The Missouri Miracle a year later: Your message for the people?
It was the second Friday of January a year ago when assistant metro editor Pat Gauen ambled into the afternoon news meeting with a story that momentarily silenced the assembled group: Kidnapped Ben Ownby had been found. And so, we thought, had Shawn Hornbeck, the boy who had gone missing more than four years earlier.
Minutes later, that news was confirmed and we were up with a story. Minutes after that, you all started to react to the story with amazement, thanksgiving and questions — oh, the questions! — in a Talk of the Day topic.
That was Jan. 12, 2007. We’ve archived most of our coverage of the case here. But now, a year later, we catch up with the major players in the case — a sort-of where-are-they-now.
How about you? Where are you on this now? Tired of it? Happy to know what’s come of the people involved? Have you got a message to post that could put a bow on this package?
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
uhhhhhhhh……..why is this coming back up? I think we nailed the lid on the coffin. Justice was served (IMO no pun intended) and I hope the two kids can get on with their lives.
I am in awe that it has been a year already. My bow on this package would be that we witnessed a miracle and if we ever again come to doubt that there is a higher power than us mere mortals we need to remember that night. Two boys who by all rights should of been dead are not only alive but are obviously doing as well as well can be after their ordeal. We all got a dose of what the rewards of faith are and it will have an inpact on my life for as long as I am on earth.
#1-You forgot to say, “and grow up Democrats”
It’s been a year? Wow. I asked my girlfriend to marry me that weekend. Frankly, that it’s been a year since then is bigger news to me, because I thought this was all over when Devlin was sentenced!
We should it “not” be brought up again… it was a magnificant event - that spread renewed feeling of hope to many accross the country - It’s an anniversay to be celebrated
Enough already…throw away your ticker file, Kurt.
Really sick of hearing about this kid.
Tired of looking at pictures of, and hearing the comments from his family. Sick of hearing about Michael Devlin.
Don’t believe he could not have gotten away.
Don’t believe in giving away houses, trucks or trips to any of them.
Stop trying to sell newspapers using this kid. He has suffered enough. Stop exploting him!
One of the most disturbing things I read in this article:
–Of all the accolades and gifts he received, Mitchell said he is most grateful for the free hunting trip in Africa that the Safari Club International gave him this past summer. On the trip, Mitchell shot a baboon, a zebra, a warthog and other game.
So a reward for a kid is a trip to shoot baboons and zebras?
It seems to me that these boys need to move on with their lives outside of the media spotlight. This is even something that Shawn’s dad mentioned in an article earlier this week. A good first step would be for the parents to stop granting interviews. The second step would be for the media to stop requesting them.