Kidnapped boys: Police probe 'link' to third child

Detectives believe a man accused of kidnapping two teenagers, one of whom was held for more than four years, could be linked to the disappearance of a third child.

Police in Missouri have shown relatives of a child missing since 1991 photographs that look like they are of the long-lost boy.

Michael Devlin , 41, is charged with kidnapping Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby in similarly remote areas. Shawn, now 15, and Ben, 13, were found on January 12 at Devlin’s suburban St Louis apartment.

Now authorities are investigating whether Devlin could be linked to Charles “Arlin” Henderson’s disappearance.

Arlin was 11 when he disappeared in July 1991 while riding his bike on a rural road in Moscow Mills, about an hour’s drive north of St Louis.

James McWilliams, Arlin’s uncle, said the Lincoln County sheriff’s detectives who showed the family the photos this week told them the pictures came from someone who claimed to know Devlin and who said the boy pictured was an acquaintance of Devlin’s from years ago.

Lincoln County Sheriff Department Lt Rick Harrell did not return phone messages seeking comment. He said last week the department would not comment on the Henderson investigation.

The photos were roughly 10 years old and showed a teenager of about 17, the relatives said. Arlin would have been 17 in 1997.

The teenager looked like he could be her son, Debra Henderson said.

“Yeah, he really did,” she said. “But I am not getting my hopes up.”

McWilliams said there was a “strong, strong” resemblance to Arlin, but he could not say for sure if it was him.

“There are some characteristics there that are the same. We’re keeping an open mind,” McWilliams said.

Detectives were investigating whether the source did, in fact, know Devlin, McWilliams said.

Lincoln County detectives are part of a state and federal task force investigating Devlin to see if he is linked to other child abductions.

Devlin faces two counts of kidnapping and one count of armed criminal action.

Lincoln County detective Chris Bartlett said this month that Devlin became the “most viable lead” in the Henderson case after his arrest.

Detectives cited the fact that all three abductions happened in remote areas, all about the same distance from Devlin’s home. All three boys were about the same size.