Missouri Kidnap Case Update

Who is leaking information relating on the Michael Devlin kidnapping case? Is this evidence prejudicial against the defendant? As we've seen in the Duke case, prosecutors are able to get away with quite a bit, but some items go beyond the pale. Right now, we have someone close to the case leaking information that could be prejudicial against Devlin.

In this case, prosecutors are required to follow Missouri Rules Governing the Missouri Bar and the Judiciary - Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 4.38 and Rule 4.36. These statements appear to be within the bounds of the law, though someone familiar with Missouri law might have further insight.

These high profile cases tend to bring out the flaws in the legal system for all the world to see and it would be criminal if Devlin were able to avoid a prison sentence he appears to deserve because of these ongoing leaks:

A kidnapped St. Louis teen was so brainwashed by his abusive captor that he stood guard over another snatched boy when the pervy pizza man went to work, an official close to the case revealed yesterday.

Shawn Hornbeck, 15, carried out orders from his alleged abductor, Michael Devlin, because the 300-pound pizzeria manager destroyed the youngster's identity during the first month of four years of captivity, when Shawn was just 11, the official told The Associated Press.

The chilling disclosure came as KVTI-TV of St. Louis, a Fox affiliate, aired a series of photos of Shawn believed to have been taken in Devlin's suburban St. Louis apartment.

The most provocative picture - taken last July - shows Shawn wearing a red bandanna over his face and pointing a gun at the camera.

Lawrence Moran, a psychologist and criminal profiler, told the station he thought the photo was a sexual turn-on for Devlin.

Shawn was snatched on Oct. 6, 2002, while riding his bicycle in a rural St. Louis suburb.

During his first month of captivity, his isolation and the abuse he received were so intense that his identity was torn apart, the official said.

Over time, the official said, Shawn came see his tormentor as his protector - a pattern common in horrific abuse cases.

How did the tv station get the photos? Were these items in the public record? Who is leaking this stuff?

That said, this information is chilling and provides further insight into the mind of Devlin and what he did to these two boys. Absolutely none of this absolves Devlin of the crimes alleged, but we need to be holding prosecutors and their staff to standards set by the state bar to ensure that he gets a fair trial.