Shawn Hornbeck, 11, vanished without a trace on October 6, 2002 while riding his bicycle near his home in rural Richwoods, MO. Local officials mounted a massive search effort that included numerous fire and law enforcement agencies, as well as family, friends, residents and volunteers from all walks of life. On October 9, 2002 the local search effort was terminated, and the case was turned over to investigators from the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug & Crime Control.

Shawn's Parents, Craig and Pamela Akers, immediately announced their intentions to form a private search team consisting of family, friends and volunteers. The response was overwhelming, as hundreds of volunteers responded to their plea for help. It soon became apparent that a central point of control and coordination would be necessary to supervise and direct the search effort. The Shawn Hornbeck Search & Rescue Team was born out of this necessity.

Shawn Hornbeck Search and Rescue is a result of tens of thousands of hours of experience organizing thousands of volunteers, all with one common goal in mind - helping to find a missing child. We offer our talents and experience to provide any assistance necessary to families experiencing the tragedy of a missing child.

The Shawn Hornbeck Search and Rescue Team is a voting member of NASAR ( National Association for Search and Rescue ) and is extremely active members of SARCOM ( Search and Rescue Council of Missouri ) with several members holding positions within SARCOM such as: Technology Committee Chairman, SARCOM Webmaster and Missouri Region C Director. Several of our members are members of the National Search Dog Association.