It has taken me a couple days to find the right words to respond to Bill O’Reilly’s comments regarding the Shawn Hornbeck kidnapping. It amazes me how someone with access to so much information, so many experts, so many people who are much brighter than he is, can be so ignorant to the basic psychology of victims.
To even hint at the thought that this 14 year-old-boy had “fun” while he was in captivity would be unacceptable – but to come right out and say it, is obnoxious, offensive and a clear sign of complete moronic behavior.
Factor this O’Reilly: just because this child was not “physically restrained” at all times does not mean that he was not in emotional captivity. Consider the thousands of women who spend a lifetime in abusive relationships and never leave, even though they are not “physically tied to the floor.” The victim/abuser relationship is not much different, except Shawn was an abducted child!
Devlin likely used manipulation, threats, fear and abuse to keep this boy from leaving. Keeping someone from escaping an abusive situation without physical restraints may be hard to understand, but it is not hard to accomplish – as Devlin proved.
And why is everyone so intent on confirming there was sexual abuse? Of course there was. Should Shawn have to broadcast his tragic ordeal to all of us through a TV news show? Absolutely not, and if I were his mother I would do everything to protect him from being re-victimized by idiots like O’Reilly who, for ratings – are intent on making this boy “explain himself.”
What is wrong with you? He did NOTHING wrong. Nothing.
As a child safety expert and former cop I thought I had heard and seen the worst. Until now. O'Reilly, you need to apologize to this family, to this boy, and to your viewers. I know you know better.
And, as a father yourself – you should be ashamed.
