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MandyMurphey's Blog

by MandyMurphey from St. Louis

Last Post 50 days, 22 hours Ago


Today was one of those days when I can't leave my emotions and thoughts at the office at the end of the day.  The testimony today in the Devlin case was graphic.  As a mother, your heart aches for what these boys went through.  My heart also goes out to Devlin's parents and his siblings.  They are a well respected family who had no idea their son was committing such horrible crimes against children.  They are victims too in all of this.  They did nothing to deserve the criticism and speculation of the public because they have a son who did something I'm sure they could never comprehend.  Yet I'm sure they love their son regardless.   We as parents would feel the same way.  I've thought a lot today about Ben and Shawn and their families... but I keep thinking of Mr. and Mrs Devlin and how their lives are now forever changed.   I never want to forget that there are real people behind the news stories that we cover.  There are real families hurting.   
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NIGHTPRWLR read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 3:48 AM

Oh pleez,Devlin's family supported his actions. If Michael Devlin was an adopted child of mine and he kidnapped your kid or kids and pulled this stuff would you still be singing this same tune. Well I'd help your tune change tone because I would be the first on the firing squad pulling the trigger on this rabid animal.
Just like the scumbag lawyers who represented this animal while he looks at the camera and the whole stating you can kidnap and rape kids while you fools will protect me,treat my illnesses, and put me in prison with fellow child molestors/sex offenders. Yeah poor Devlin he's a victim,while two(probably more)kids lives were effected in a way that only they will ever know.
Mr. and Mrs. Devlin raised and human malfunction,or maybe they raised him to be this way. Let them speak in public and clear their names,just like Mr. Dahmer did who listened to him?
No symapathy for the Devil-ins!

harp read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 7:18 AM

Nighprwlr I agree with one thing I like to see devlins parents come on tv and say something.
Thay have not and that bothers me,I come from a abuses family and belive me my parents will go to there graves never addmitting to doing no wrong..

I have 5 other sisters all but me and one other are like real people the rest are just like my parents no good.

I use to think all familys was like mine in Ohio till I moved here with my adopted parents and see that the Ohio family is one sick family.

I am betting that Devlins family is not all that good I could be wrong but because they seem to have no remorse for what there son has done if they did they be on tv saying how sorry they are. Or at lease hide there faces and say how sorry they are..

I too hope Devlin suffers till the day he dies I HATE anyone who harms any chiled ever!

momof5 read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 7:43 AM

Mandy, i see what your saying. They say you love your children regardless. I would be soooo mad, i dont know what i would think as that parent. I can see how they didnt know about S.H, because my only brother lives across town from me and ive only been to his house once in 5 yrs. And its not that we dont talk, i just dont go over there. I personally cant pass judgement on the "devils" parents.

Bee1 read my blog
Oct 10, 2007 | 8:56 AM

I agree with you momof5, I can see how they wouldn't know, I have siblings that live across town from me & we talk on phone, see each other at family functions, and talk on-line, but none of them have been to my home in probably 7 or 8 years.
I did expect the parents (Devlins) to make a statement, but I'm sure they have their reasons for staying out of the media, whether it be embarassment, or don't want to be judged for what their son has done, In a way I feel that they have been victimized by their son as well.

lilmomma28 read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 1:30 PM

I agree with both of you......... Bee1.... AMEN!!! Couldn't have said it better.

threeboysforme read my blog
Oct 10, 2007 | 1:51 PM

To say that Devlin's family supported his actions is completely unfair. We do not know what kind of relationship he had with his family. I have several close members of my family who have never been to my home in over 5 years. I'm sure they are terrified of living in this horrible shadow for the rest of their lives.

KittyKatz read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 2:01 PM

I dont think the Devlins need to clear their names for anything. They did not commit the crimes. Their son did. They are not responsible for what he did as an adult.

I assume there is an extended family, aunts, uncles cousins etc. This affects them also. Mandy is right, there are other families hurting also.

AMOM read my blog
Oct 10, 2007 | 2:56 PM

I think that his parents and brothers knew that he had Shawn. MY understanding is that Devil-in didn't have a drivers license and was driving his brother's truck. Also what about his brother living there with Shawn and Devil-in for about 3 months.

Sorry, I just can't buy that.

harp read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 3:23 PM

I don't think his parents new anything about it but I think out of respect for the boys and there family they should say something.
Like I am sorry my son done this I don't know why he was brought up right I just don't understand why,We are deeply sorry for the familys involved..

But they seem to show no consern that bothers me...

sissytrucker read my blog
Oct 10, 2007 | 9:12 PM

Ok my problem here is that back in the beginning. devlin had surgery on his foot & stayed w/his parents. So where was shawn then?? tells me that somebody knew something

misscrickett read my blog
Oct 10, 2007 | 9:20 PM

I'm going to tell you that Devlin's family knew the kind of person he was. You know when there is something wrong with your child, whether they are children or grown. He is the same catagory as Jeffery Daimer.
These kinds of people are less than human, they are monsters....and insanity doesn't even enter into this type of character..

And let me add, "the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree"

mancillas read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 12:26 AM

It is human nature to love your child unconditionaly. I do not know if Devlin's parents knew about what he was up to or not.

If they were not a close family and just found out what their son was up to? This would sicken me to the bone if I were Devlin's parents! It would truly devistate my life.

However... This only goes to show you how important it is to keep a "tight knit" family.

Bottom line....Parenting does not stop at any age! Know your children and remain in close contact always and forever!!

A parents role changes as your child grows. But your job is never done. When they become adults, parenting is simply being a close friend and confidant.

Only animals give birth and leave their offspring to fend for themselves.

NIGHTPRWLR read my blog view my photos
Oct 11, 2007 | 3:39 AM

One thing that still lingers in my mind is Devil-ins funeral home job. I'm sure he had taken that job for more than spare change. He had other intentions for his future.
Back to the parents of Devil-in,were they the ones who hired the lawyers? Adopted him? I don't blame them at all. I'm sure after he left their "nest" he might of created his sick perverted world,unless of course his parents trained him to be this way.

the4thstooge read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 7:19 AM

evryone has their own unique personality,you cannot judge and persecute the parents and other family members in all situations,and yes i agree that you have to love your kids and nurture them unconditionally,but just look at all the violence and crime that people are subject to,you cannot be with them 24-7 365,it's just impossible,just my opinion

socotransplant read my blog view my photos
Oct 11, 2007 | 7:44 AM

I knew Mike "Devo" Devlin for about 20 years, met a few of his siblings very briefly over the years, don’t recall meeting his parents. One thing people have to understand is that no one, I mean no one had any clue, not me, not others at work at Imos, no one. Mike could be pompous and had a bit of a superiority complex but these behaviors to me were always signs of insecurity and meekness. He wasn’t close with his family (or much of anyone) in the sense that he didn’t talk to them on a regular basis, Mike was always sort of a loner. I was positive he was attracted to women but always felt with the way he was that relationships were just not for him. He had a love for video games and back in the day many of us used to go to his apartment after work and play Nintendo Hockey till all hours of the night. Devo being a child molester would be the last thing anyone would have ever guessed about him. Devo was adopted, the gene that produces anti-social and other predatory conditions is often genetic, and unless addressed by a shrink and on going therapy regardless of your upbringing you are more incline to commit a crime. I wish he had known something wasn’t right with him and got some help early on, for Shawn and Ben’s sake more than his. I will sadly admit I didn’t believe any sexual molestation occurred at first, I couldn’t believe it I trusted this guy with my own son who is now 18 and claims Devo never touched him or creeped him out ever, if anything my son recalls Devo being irritated by him and saying he could never have kids they are too annoying. Devo on rare occasion would

socotransplant read my blog view my photos
Oct 11, 2007 | 7:45 AM

CONTINUED_

Devo on rare occasion would watch my son in the restaurant while I delivered Pizza, when my son hit JR High age he walked to Imo’s on Fridays after school to hang out and bug Devo. It was hard to admit to myself much less anyone else that Devo could have done this, this was someone I once considered a friend. Devo to all of us seemed Asexual, a mascot or character more than a real person with a life. Im glad he will never get out of prison and my sincere apology goes out to the kids for ever doubting that anything devious occurred. I really believe Mike was lonely and wanted gaming buddies and a house maid when he was sick and that he manipulated the kids into coming with him and staying with him, kind of like a neverland, those accusations I would have bough hook line and sinker, but molestation, would have never guessed or believed until I heard the kids story and Mikes omission. I guess a defense mechanism in all of us makes it hard to always believe or see the truth, if any of you can identity with that statement then you can identify with Devos parents and the rest of us, we are still in shock and feel a great sadness for these kids, and for me, when I think of Devo I think of him as a friend that died, to me the Devo I know is dead this guy in prison is some monster I have never met.
I hope these kids can move on and forgive those like me who had a hard time believing, they are sweet kids and didn’t deserve for their lives to be tainted this way. Again I am SO SORRY!

the4thstooge read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 7:49 AM

when i went to school,the thing i worried about most was if the girl 2 rows over liked me or not,kids today wonder if the kid 2 rows over has a gun,it's just a violent world and i think the value of life itself is dwindling fast.kids are subject to too muck violence outside the home

misscrickett read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 9:39 AM

talk about "muck violence" get rid of some of those sick-o video games that are in the homes

the4thstooge read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 5:00 PM

i agree 100% misscrickett,i'm just saying that it's a parents job to police what's going on in the home,but impossible to police everything that goes on outside the home,and the crowd that people hook up with

misscrickett read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 8:52 PM

well,my point is devlins parents had to know he was a loner, and had social problems. M.Devlin, and jeffery damier, have the same amount of letters in their name....hmmmmm. But you know your children inside out, and know what they are capable of doing. of course, this sick-o was adopted, so I still say the nut doesn't fall too far from the tree. What is the back ground of all these people, are they all abusers too. what about his BIO parents, what kind of whacko's are they?

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MandyMurphey

I'm the anchor for Fox 2 News at 5 and 9. I've been with KTVI for 17 years starting as the Contact 2 reporter. I am the mother of two daughters ages 8 and 2.

Member Since: 9/13/2006