A Happy Reunion for Families of Missing Boys in Kirkwood, Missouri

There were lots of happy tears flowing in Washington County, Missouri when two families were reunited with their missing sons. Ben Ownby had disappeared Monday, January 8^th after getting off of his school bus. An unfamiliar white Nissan truck with a camper shell and rust spots was seen speeding away from the spot where Ben had disappeared. This information turned out to be the key piece of information in the disappearance of Ben Ownby.

Police officers had gone to a Kirkwood, Missouri apartment complex to serve a warrant on an unrelated matter when they were alerted by a neighbor who had seen a white truck in the parking lot. Police officers went inside an apartment and found Ben Ownby there. Another boy was found in the apartment also. A female police officer asked the second boy to identify himself. He told her his name was Shawn Hornbeck. Shawn had disappeared from the area St. Louis area four and a half years ago. The parents of Shawn Hornbeck had never given up on finding their son. Soon after Shawn's disappearance his parents created the Shawn Hornbeck Foundation to help the families of other missing children. Shawn's parents were stunned to find out that their son had been living in the area for the past 4 ½ years. Neighbors at the apartment complex where Shawn and Ben were found said that they had seen Shawn playing outdoors but just assumed he was the son of a neighbor. That neighbor turned out to be 41 year old Michael Levlin who was arrested for kidnapping and is being held on a one million dollar bond.

Levlin was employed at a local restaurant and also worked part-time at a funeral home. Co-workers at the restaurant had joked about Levlin's truck matching the description of the truck seen at the time Ben Ownby disappeared. They did not realize that this was the exact truck police were looking for.

After being reunited with their families both boys were taken to Cardinal Glennon Children's hospital to be examined. Both boys looked to be in good physical health. There are many questions as to how Shawn Hornbeck was kept in the area but never recognized as the boy who disappeared 4 ½ years ago. Shawn had seen posters of himself in local stores. There have been reports that Shawn was threatened if he tried to get away.

Shawn and Ben's parents and the surrounding community feel that they have been blessed with a miracle. These boys are living proof that we should never give up hope and that miracles really do happen.