Authorities upgrade search for missing Portland boy to major crimes investigation
By Allan Brettman, The Oregonian
June 05, 2010, 9:37AM
Kyron3.jpgView full sizeA photo posted on his stepmother's Facebook page shows Kyron Horman in front of his science fair project, wearing the "CSI" T-shirt he was last seen in. Detectives were going door to door in a rural part of Northwest Portland Saturday after the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office upgraded the search for a missing 7-year-old boy to a Major Crimes Team investigation, employing more than 150 personnel from several metro-area law enforcement agencies and the FBI.

Kyron Horman was last seen about 9 a.m. Friday after attending a science fair at Skyline Elementary School, according to Matt Shelby, spokesman for Portland Public Schools. The second-grade boy was with his stepmother at the fair that morning, but never checked back in with his teacher afterward, Shelby said.

The stepmother said she last saw Kyron at approximately 8:45, walking down the hallway towards his classroom, according to a sheriff's department press release. The school staff reported not seeing him after 8:45 and that he did not make it to his classroom.

Multnomah County Sheriff’s Capt. Jason Gates, speaking at a noon press conference at the school Saturday, said someone called 9-1-1 at about 3:45 p.m. to report Kyron missing. He would not say who made the call.

He said Portland police initiated the search and “it was realized it was not going to be an immediate find.”

Gates later said that meant that the boy was not going to be found in an expected place, such as the school or his home. He said, “The family has been nothing less than completely cooperative.”

He said detectives are going door to door in the area and he encouraged residents to talk to them. He said detectives are in the process of contacting every Skyline parent to come to the school on Sunday so they can be interviewed individually.

Asked if the FBI typically gets involved in a missing person’s case, he said no. In this instance, they are involved “because they care.”

Portland police responded to initial reports of the missing boy, then handed the case to the sheriff's office, which has jurisdiction in unincorporated areas of the county.

upgraded search includes the Portland Police Bureau and its air unit, the Gresham and Fairview police departments, Oregon State Police and the FBI. Also involved are search and rescue resources from the Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill county sheriff’s offices, SearchOne Canine Inc., Mountain Rescue, Yamhill County Canine, Clark County, Wash., Pacific NW Search and Rescue, and a National Guard helicopter.

Members searched throughout the night, covering more than 20 miles of road and two square miles. Authorities set up a perimeter around the school that only searchers were allowed to cross. The school is a brick building in a rural area of farms and upscale homes along Skyline Boulevard.

Kyron is described as 3 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 50 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with the logo of the “CSI” television show, black cargo pants, white socks and black Skecher tennis shoes with orange trim. He wears glasses.

An automated phone message was sent to Skyline parents about 5:30 p.m. Friday. Parents of students at other schools in the district also received that message.

Lt. Mary Lindstrand, a sheriff's spokeswoman, said the agency would have searchers out as long as needed.

The boy lives with his father and stepmother. Lindstrand said his mother, who lives out of the area, was on her way here.

jason.gates.jpgView full sizeThe Oregonian/Allan BrettmanCapt. Jason Gates, incident commander for the Multnomah County Sheriff's office, outside Skyline Elementary School.Gina Zimmerman, president of the school PTA, dropped by the Skyline search scene Saturday morning with her 8-year-old daughter Madi, who has been a classmate of Kyron for three years.

“He’s not the type of child who would just go out of school and go searching or wandering around,” Zimmerman said. “He’s just a timid, sweet boy.”

Zimmerman said she was in contact with the father, Kaine Horman, and stepmother, Terri Horman, and detectives Friday night. “Everybody’s just worried and in shock that this could happen in our little school where everybody knows everybody.”

She said the K-8 school has about 300 students. The principal, Ben Keefer, declined to comment Saturday.

Zimmerman said she arrived at the school around 8:15 a.m. Friday, as most parents and students did, to attend the end-of-year science fair. Terri Korman took a photograph of Kyron in front of his project, Zimmerman said.

Kyron’s project was on the red-eye tree frog, Madi said.

“We always play on the swings together,” she said of her friend. I’m thinking my thoughts for him. I’m very worried.”

Zimmerman said everyone went into their classroom for the science fair and broke into parent-led groups of four or five. She wasn’t sure what group Kyron was in. but she said the last time she saw him was at 8:15, when the groups began going from class to class.

“Then you were supposed to stay with your group. I don’t know what group he was in.”

Zimmerman said the boy has no learning disabilities. “He’s a good kid who follows the rules,” she said.

“We’re really close to the family, “ she added, noting that Kyron has an older brother and a younger sister. “We’ve been on the phone with them all night.”

Anyone with information regarding Kyron's whereabouts is asked to call a tip line at 503-261-2847.

I am F'ing sick of this. Not a day goes by that we don't hear about a kid or woman being kidnapped, murdered, molested, raped, tortured etc.

It needs to stop and we need tougher laws. I am also for capitol punishment or life in prisonment for pedophiles and rapists.