[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H738]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THE MISSOURI MIRACLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Hulshof) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HULSHOF. Madam Speaker, they are calling it the Missouri miracle, 
but it didn't start out that way. In fact, it was a parent's worst 
nightmare. A 13-year-old gets off a school bus near his home in rural 
Missouri but never makes it home. The local sheriff's office works 
frantically to locate the missing boy but has few leads. That was the 
real life saga for Ben Ownby's family last week near Beaufort, 
Missouri, in my congressional district.
  Last Monday, January 8, after a normal day at school William Ben 
Ownby rode the bus to school. He got off and disappeared. The wrenching 
news energized the local community. Volunteers turned out in droves to 
assist law enforcement and to search the nearby woods. Friends and 
neighbors began prayer chains and offered moral support to Ben's 
family. Police officers and sheriffs' deputies from surrounding 
counties lent their assistance.
  Fortunately the single lead provided by 14-year-old Mitchell Hults 
was a good one. Mitchell had gotten off the school bus with Ben and 
described having seen a beat-up white Nissan pickup truck with a camper 
shell, even describing the trailer hitch to a T. Two police officers 
who had gone to a Kirkwood, Missouri, apartment complex to serve an 
unrelated warrant saw a truck matching the description, sought 
additional legal authority and, lo and behold, last Friday, January 12, 
when officers approached the apartment, not only did they find Ben 
Ownby unharmed, but a second youth, Shawn Hornbeck, a boy from 
Washington County, Missouri who had been missing since 2002.
  More than 4 years ago, October 6, 2002, when he was 11, Shawn 
Hornbeck disappeared while riding his bike. In a similar fashion, the 
community and law enforcement worked hard on that case to no avail. Yet 
Craig and Pam Akers, Shawn's parents, never gave up. Their ability to 
persevere 4\1/2\ years is a testament to their strength and faith.
  During that time, the Akers family established the Shawn Hornbeck 
Foundation, whose mission it is to help families and law enforcement 
search for missing children. Craig Akers' commitment to finding Shawn 
and helping families has come at great personal expense and took a 
physical and emotional toll, and yet he remains devoted to helping 
others deal with cases of missing children.
  What a miracle that both youths were rescued.
  I would be remiss if I did not recognize the hard work of area law 
enforcement, especially singling out Franklin County Sheriff Gary 
Toelke and the Franklin County Sheriff's Department. Gary is a friend 
of mine. This happens to be the second time in 4 months that Sheriff 
Toelke has reported a happy ending in a missing child case.
  You may remember last September, his department recovered an 8-day-
old baby girl when a woman attacked the baby's mother. That case became 
a national news story, as has this one. The outcome of both of these 
cases is a testament to that department's professionalism and 
commitment to the community.
  I also applaud the great detective work of young Mitchell Hults by 
remembering the details of that suspicious white pickup truck right 
down to the dents, rust spots and trailer hitch. Mitchell not only 
saved the life of his friend Ben, but also rescued Shawn from 4\1/2\ 
years of captivity. All are true heroes, and their diligence saved the 
lives of two young boys and brought solace to the Akers and Ownby 
families.
  On behalf of all Americans and parents nationwide, this House 
appreciates their good work. To the Akers and Ownby families, I am sure 
my colleagues will join me in expressing your shared beliefs that your 
prayers have been answered. Truly, a Missouri miracle.

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