Missing Oregon 7-year-old’s parents say stepmother hasn’t responded to requests to cooperate

Missing Oregon boy’s parents renew plea to stepmom

PORTLAND, Ore. — The biological parents of a missing Oregon boy said that the 7-year-old’s stepmother still hasn’t responded to their public pleas to fully cooperate with investigators, and that assurances by a local sheriff that she is cooperating do not reflect the facts.

Kyron Horman’s father, mother and stepfather said in an e-mail to news organizations late Monday that they believe Terri Moulton Horman has not resumed speaking to law enforcement. The statement was primarily written by Desiree Young, the boy’s biological mother.

They were responding to a statement from Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Staton, who said last week that Terri Moulton Horman, Kyron’s stepmother, is cooperating with the investigation. Investigators haven’t named her as a suspect or a person of interest.

“We believe that the sheriff’s statement could have been misinterpreted and possibly reflects Terri’s cooperation to participate in prior weeks during the investigation,” according to the family’s statement.

“Based upon information we have received from briefings, it is our understanding, and continues to be such, that she has not been cooperating,” it added.

Terri Moulton Horman is the last person known to have seen Kyron before he vanished on June 4. Her attorney, Portland defense lawyer Stephen Houze, did not immediately return calls seeking comment on Tuesday.

Kyron’s father, mother and stepfather said in Monday’s e-mail that they’ve all taken polygraph tests and would continue meeting with investigators.

The statement also provided the clearest look yet of the day Kyron went missing.

Kaine Horman, Kyron’s biological father, said that he left for work around 7:45 a.m., and on his way out, he told his son he was proud of his science project, hugged him and told him he loved him.

“While I have not seen him since, that moment in time is still etched in my mind as if it just happened and is a constant reminder of the joy of having him as a son,” Kaine Horman said.

He said he stayed in his office until 1:45 p.m. and returned home by 2 p.m., where he found Terri Moulton Horman and their daughter Kiara. The three walked down to the bus stop at about 3:35 p.m. The bus arrived, but Kyron wasn’t on it.

The family called Skyline Elementary School, which notified police. The 911 call touched off a massive search in the area that has been scaled down after the case was classified as a criminal investigation.

Young said that the family feels the investigation is still on track.

In response to a question about a person responsible for Kyron’s disappearance, Young said: “All of us care very much about bringing this person to justice and bringing Kyron home, and we will not stop until that is done.”

Young also said in the statement that police have kept the family aware of all developments, but that they still believe Terri Moulton Horman is not telling investigators everything she knows.

“We have been briefed by law enforcement, and we have not received a response since our request for her to fully cooperate with investigators to assist in bringing Kyron home,” Young said. “We continue to issue our plea of her FULLY cooperating with law enforcement and the investigation to help bring Kyron home as quickly as possible.”