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PSA: Commentary on a kidnapper who had a Gamertag

Posted Jan 15, 2007 at 2:27PM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: Gamertag Radio, Microsoft, PlayStation Network, WiiConnect24

It's a cause I wholly support. You should, too.

For all whatever vitriol came out after we posted that entire "risk of porn on your networked console" article, sometimes we forget there are things that are much worse. Gamertag Radio comments on a recent story of a child kidnapper, and how Gamertagpics.com found that he owns a Gamertag on Xbox Live (and also a Gamertagpics account).

People often criticize social networks like MySpace as potential targets for stalkers, child abusers, and kidnappers, but people also forget that Xbox Live, along with PlayStation Network and WiiConnect24, are social networks, too.

The temperature in the room went down five degrees as I wrote that.

The kidnapper, Michael Devlin of St. Louis, became the primary suspect of the kidnapping of a 13-year old kid. When police arrived to search Devlin's apartment, they were shocked to find another boy, now fifteen, who was declared missing four years ago by his family. Gamertagpics found that it was the fifteen year old's pic that was used as the pic for the Gamertag of the 41-year old Devlin.

Before some unkind commenter/s decides to post wild and wholly untrue theories of his own about this, we must gravely note what the police have analyzed all data pertaining to this situation, as based on a CNN report. Apprently, Devlin's prior rap sheet only showed traffic violations, and none of his co-workers noticed anything odd about his behavior.

On the other hand, why, in those four years, the second child did not attempt to escape or inform the authorities of his abduction, experts point to many factors, including fear of the kidnapper, and that kidnappers often attempt to convince their victims that they're the real parents or that their real parents aren't coming for them. Devlin's landlord mentioned that he identified that second child as his son when moving in.

Both children are reunited with their families. Devlin has no comment to the press regarding this incident.

There is no mention by CNN, or Gamertag Radio, or Gamertagpics, about Xbox Live or Gamertagpics being used by Devlin to "scout" for potential targets (as other social networking sites have been used). And you know that Microsoft, GT Radio, and Gamertagpics take their security precautions seriously. So should gamers. You can always trust the devious to find ways to abuse gaming networks to their own ends. Maybe not in this case, but perhaps in the future...

This writer is posting this link for the US Justice Department's AMBER Alert, both as a public service to the community, and as an eternal reminder that we are meant to enjoy the innocence of our childhood - not have it shattered.

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It turns out that Devlin is not only the owner of Xbox Live gamertag appropriately named “DevilDevlin”, but had also registered an account on Gamertagpics.com. Gamertagpics.com is a popular social networking site for Xbox Live members. While 41 year old Michael Devlin was the owner of the profile on Gamertagpics, the profile features a picture Shawn Hornbeck which appears to have been taken outside Devlin’s apartment. The profile on Gamertagpics was registered in 2005 and has been inactive for 232 days, but DevilDevlin was last seen online playing Saint’s Row on 1/13/2007 according to his gamercard.

# w=er08324 — Guest 2007-01-15 18:30

I saw this on CBS news with Katie C. and it showed his gamertagpics.com profile and picture on there.

# Shawn probably post his pic on gamertag. — Guest 2007-01-15 19:34

he probably think he is listed as missing so he try posting his pic under devlin's profile.

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