Mother Of Child Missing Since 1991 Still Looking For Answers

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By Jeff Small KSDK-TV

ST. LOUIS, MO -- The mother of another missing child is hoping that the rescue of Ben Ownby and Shawn Hornbeck will lead to some answers for her family. Her son, Arlin Henderson, vanished in 1991 under very similar circumstances.

Deborah Henderson-Griffith says there have been few leads that point to where her son might be or what happened to him. She is now praying the ongoing investigation into Michael Devlin?s past will at least begin to provide some answers.

More than a decade later, Henderson-Griffith refuses to listen to those suggesting she stop looking for him.

"A lot of them would say, ?Why don't you give up?? but I am just not."

Henderson-Griffith says she prayed her son was also going to be found alive. While there was no word on his whereabouts, she believes Hornbeck?s kidnapping is eerily similar to how her son vanished. Arlin went missing while riding his bike near his home in Lincoln County. His mother says she's now following every new detail about Michael Devlin, hoping what she feels inside is a good sign.

"I know what my heart tells me and it says, ?Please, please, please let this be key that opens up the case,? but as far as gut feelings, I think I gave up on that a long time ago."

For now she is forced to wait as police once again examine her missing son's case. Closure is what she wants after hurting and wondering for so many years.

In 2001, Joshua Spangler confessed to killing Henderson. He later admitted to making up the story.

Arlin was 11 when he vanished in 1991. His 27th birthday is March 16.