Miracle in Missouri When Two Missing Boys are Found Alive
Searchers looking for William Ownby—missing for five days—were amazed to find, not just William, but also Shawn Hornbeck, who had been missing for over four years.

AP Staff/AH (Jan 13th, 2007)

Thirteen-year-old William "Ben" Ownby was last seen five days ago, when he hopped off his school bus and headed for home...but he never made it. According to the report, a friend of Ben's told police he'd noticed a white pick up truck speeding away from the area where Ben had been walking.

The truck information proved to be paramount in the case when, after days of searching, a vehicle matching the description given to police was sighted 60 miles away, in St. Louis. From there, police were able to locate the owner's house, and searched it.

What authorities found surprised them, when their search of the truck owner's home turned up Ben Ownby, and another boy who identified himself as Shawn Hornbeck, who'd been missing since October of 2002. Both boys appeared to be alright, considering the ordeal. Both boys were reunited with their families on Friday night.

The parents of Shawn Hornbeck, Pam and Craig Akers, have reportedly devoted themselves to finding missing people and bringing them home, ever since their son vanished 4 years ago.

"It's been four years, but for me, it's just been one long continuous day," Pam Hornbeck had lamented just this past October, on the anniversary of Shawn's disappearance.

Source: AP