Why do people stay with their kidnappers?
@dnatureofdtrain (5273)
Janesville, Wisconsin
January 15, 2007 4:04am CST
I been watching the whole story about the 2 boys that were kidnapped in Missouri. I know the one child was threatened by the kidnapper that he would be killed if he told anyone he was kidnapped. But I been wondering now... What other things these people do to make there victims stick and stay with them, when they could have had so many chances to escape? ... It is frightening... I am glad those two young boys were found... but I now often wondering, what other things these people do to hold these poor victims captive? ...
It is sad and sick, but if we understand how these people think, we can spend time with our own children and those around us to make it clear that if anyone tells them this or that it is not true, get help!... Every family should have a plan.. in case something like this happens, Community should be very alert, and a child could even have a secret phrase that only the family knows. Where the child could go up to a police officer or yell that phrased, that may sound like nonsense to the kidnapper, but the police, and family would know what it meant and take action, is one small plan..... Then they could safely investigate into it... etc.
I understand some of the reasons, but it just amazes me how he could live so close to home, and never be recognized... or why he did not try to take off... if he figured they would return him to the kidnapper thinking he was their son? I am not sure.
I know I am just glad the young man is back home with his family. - DNatureofDTrain
2 people like this
3 responses
@Netsbridge (3253)
• United States
18 Jan 07
Your very logical questions remind me of Andrea P. Yates' oldest son/child, who simply waited for his turn to be drowned - why didn't he run away after he witnessed the drowning of his siblings or run out and seek help? I think that when children are raised in seclusion and/or raised in fear or with their wills/spirits broken, they tend to be very frightened and be easily intimidated. I remember, by age three, running away from my mother for dear life (to either my grandparents, favorite uncles or aunts or neighbors for some intervention) whenever I saw a correction rod in my mammy's hand!
People should stop being mean-spirited to their children and stop trying to break their spirits! Such is a big disservice to the emotional make-up of a child's inner strength.
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
16 Jan 07
I followed the recent case in the news. I find it quite shocking how kidnappers manage to get away with "murder" in broad daylight. We are living in an individualistic society, where everybody cares about his family members only. I am not in favour of poking your noses in others buisness by no means. But I am astonished how a restaurant manager managed could kidnap two kids and to keep one of the boys for your years. No neighbour noticed anything strange?
@dnatureofdtrain (5273)
• Janesville, Wisconsin
18 Jan 07
I think Neighbors did not notice as he had introduced them as his God son, or son, and Many people know children of any age and will act up and throw fits, and sometimes it is hard to tell if it is a kidnapping, or just a child... He may have told all the neighbors a fib like the child is a runner is why he is staying with me if anyone sees him trying to leave, bring him back here... without getting the police involved type deal.. Most neighbors if you really know and trust your neighbor would not question as message.. like this, and will just bring the child straight home...
So we do not know if this was the case with the boys in the news.. But people can be very convincing and if a person has never done anything wrong before it is really hard to tell...
It's sad that he was right under their noses all the time, and I wonder why when Shaw did not see those posters he did not find the nearest passerby and go home. He probably figured it was safer for him to stay where it was for his family after being gone for so long... ... It's hard telling. Not only that but if a person sees the kidnapper is a good person, good values, treats them well... They they may go along with it, hoping to try to keep a good person who made a flub out of jail..... Also happens in many cases... or we do not know the boy may have been on the run too... for whatever reason... It is hard to tell until you are in know the story from all sides.
- DNatureofDTrain
@lilaclady (28206)
• Australia
15 Jan 07
it is a mystery, maybe a form of brainwashing, I don't know, I have heard of women even falling in love with their captors, it all makes you wonder what the brain is all about, but you are right there is a need for some action to be taken there are too amny strange things happening out there.
1 person likes this
@dnatureofdtrain (5273)
• Janesville, Wisconsin
15 Jan 07
I do believe in many cases, it is a form of brainwashing, in other cases... the person starts out pretending to be in love to manipulate their captor but over time, end up falling in love.. I think is some of it. If both involved are truely lonely... It is not a wonder why that happens for some... For others though, it is worrysome, and yes many strange things happening out there, and people see it every day, and they pass it, not even knowing it had ever been a problem, with the situation. - DNatureofDTrain
