Relatives of missing Oregon 7-year-old thank searchers and volunteers, urge optimism

Relatives of missing Oregon boy urge optimism

PORTLAND, Ore. — Relatives of a 7-year-old Portland boy missing from his elementary school for five days have urged those working to find him to carry on the search with optimism.

Twenty-two state, local and federal agencies have been following up on more than 1,200 tips in the search for Kyron Horman, who disappeared from Skyline Elementary School on Friday.

“There has been nothing of significance in terms of results to report,” Multnomah County sheriff’s Capt. Jason Gates said Tuesday at a brief news conference.

He said investigators have interviewed the families of about 90 percent of the school’s students, and he asked those who haven’t been questioned to call a tip line.

Many parents were at a science fair Friday morning before the boy vanished. Gates said investigators planned to interview everyone who was at the school.

Kelly Ramirez, the sister of Kyron’s mother, issued a statement Monday evening thanking everyone who has “worked tirelessly on Kyron’s behalf” and asked people to print and distribute fliers with the boy’s photo.

“Above all do not give up hope, as we certainly never will,” she said. “He is out there and we are going to find him and bring him home safe where he belongs.”

Sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents posted about 40 yards from the school stopped cars Monday morning and asked passengers whether they were at the school Friday.

Gates said Monday that investigators need more tips. “Every tip, no matter how insignificant you think it is, could be the one we need.”

Gates said the last known sighting of Kyron was about 9 a.m. Friday, shortly after the boy and his stepmother attended a science fair at the school. She last saw him walking down a hallway toward his second-grade classroom, wearing a “CSI” T-shirt and dark cargo pants.

A search began after classes let out and Kyron didn’t come home on the bus. His stepmother called 911 about 3:45 p.m., and sheriff’s deputies and K-9 units began a search of the school and the two-mile route to his home.

Searchers spent Monday continuing to comb the forest around the school, located in hilly countryside west of downtown Portland.

It was unclear whether Kyron was in class Friday or when anyone noticed he was missing because police have been reluctant to disclose public details of the search.

Authorities have not yet determined whether Kyron was kidnapped or just wandered off, but they’re describing him as a “missing endangered child.”

Tip line: 503-261-2847.