I am not one who believes that stepmom was a “mastermind criminal”, nor do I believe I have “tunnel vision” for continuing to hope that stepmom steps forward with the truth.
I do believe she is a very emotionally disturbed woman who hired (with a lot of financial help from her adoptive parents) a very savvy defense attorney who perhaps was able to intimidate the state prosecutors.
Let’s review a few details about this case, keeping in mind that some are details given by stepmom herself in interviews:
A Refresher of Events from June 4, 2010:
♦8:00AM • School opened
→Kyron to take part in AM science fair & PM talent show
♦8:15AM • Ground floor • Kyron, stepmom & 18-month-old entered Kyron's classroom leaving his coat & backpack
→Stepmom took photo of Kyron near his science project wearing T-shirt with “CSI” logo
→All 3 viewed projects displayed in gym & nearby classrooms
→Basement level • Returned library books & visited Kyron’s 1st grade teacher in clasroom 104
♦8:15-8:45AM • Outside school: Person seen in or around F250
♦8:45AM bell • Stepmom & Kyron raced to see who could get to 2nd floor first
→Kyron used central stairs near main entrance
→Stepmom & 18-month-old chose side stairs near parking lot
→Terri walked to middle or top step—or halfway down hall—to wave goodbye to Kyron before vision of back of his head occurred near doorway to classroom 213
♦8:55AM Approximately • Witnesses saw stepmom, 18-month-old & Kyron walking down front sidewalk
♦10:00AM Approximately • Kyron was marked absent
♦Teacher had an email from stepmom excusing Kyron for doctor's appointment
♦3:46PM • School secretary called 911 to report Kyron was missing
Timeline for stepmom:
Allegedly on 6-4-10 @ 1st Fred Meyer • 9:00AM to 9:12AM
♦Stepmom has receipt with check-out time
♦LE has video of stepmom @ two FM locations, but was she alone?
Allegedly on 6-4-10 @ Starbucks • 9:14AM?
♦Coffee @ drivethru
Allegedly on 6-4-10 @ Magic Cleaners • 9:25AM?
♦Stepmom alone (by witness account) • Left 2 shirts
Allegedly on 6-4-10 @ 2nd Fred Meyer • 9:30 to 10AM
♦Stepmom seen with 18-month-old sick in her arms sharing pictures of Kyron (by witness account)
Allegedly on 6-4-10 @ Michaels • 10:10AM?
♦Stepmom made a “quick stop” for craft supplies
Allegedly on 6-4-10 @ Albertsons • 10:10AM?
♦Albertsons submitted video & cooperated with LE
♦Stepmom first said she was here, later changed location to 2nd FM • could someone else have been here in her stead?
Allegedly on 6-4-10:
the time stepmom cannot or will not account for: 10:10 to 11:39AM
♦Stepmom tried to soothe 18-month-old until meds kicked in by driving truck:
→For a few minutes
→Down HWY 30
→On back roads of NW Multnomah Co for approximately 90 minutes
→Stopping somewhere for approximately 30 of 90 minutes, but can’t remember exactly where
Allegedly on 6-4-10 @ Gym • 11:39AM to 12:40PM
♦18-month-old in gym daycare as stepmom completed a workout
Allegedly on 6-4-10 returns home • sometime between 12:45PM & 1:21PM
♦1:21PM approximately, stepmom uploaded photos taken earlier
→Emailed Kyron's teacher asking when project could be picked-up
→Mundanely emailed Desiree
♦2:00PM approximately • Kaine returned from work
♦3:35PM approximately • Kaine put shoes on 18-month-old & walked with her to bus stop to greet Kyron • Terri followed
♦A 3-mile race to school ensued when informed Kyron not on bus
♦Kyron missing for 6+ hours
After Kyron was confirmed missing:
♦F250 towed by LE twice (by stepmom’s father’s account)
♦Stepmom polygraphed 3 times (and interviewed for many hours):
→1st poly: 6-7-10: Failed
→2nd poly: 6-10-10: Did not complete
→3rd poly: 6-20-10: Failed
♦Allegedly, stepmom’s cell phone pings, computer records and bank receipts do not match with her timeline for June 4, 2010
♦Allegedly, ‘tracking records’ on stepmom’s cell phone showed research into area logging roads (done on 6-3-10)
♦Stepmom told Kaine (Kyron's father) she: “stumbled over questions about where Kyron went when he left school”
♦6-28-10•A female friend of 7 years moved into stepmom’s home remaining for 11 days until stepmom was evicted
♦6-30-10•Female friend purchased 1 of 3? burner phones
♦6-30-10/7-6-10•Female friend mixed drinks & wore thong as stepmom engaged in explicit sexting with a friend of Kyron’s father
→Overtures resembled MO in murder-for-hire plots
♦7-10 • Female friend refused to take polygraph (eventually took one years later)
♦Female friend’s condo searched via warrant • Cell phone & computer seized
♦Kaine revealed:
→LE had probable cause to show stepmom was involved in Kyron’s disappearance
→Stepmom was being investigated for involvement in violent crimes (at least two murder-for-hire plots)
♦6-30-10 • Stepmom hired criminal defense attorney Stephen Houze
♦8-15 • Stepmom: Theft of hand gun, Marysville, California/Failed to show for arraignment, warrant issued for arrest
♦1-16 • Stepmom gives People Magazine interview
♦9-16 • Stepmom does the Dr. Phil Show
♦12-16 • Stepmom stopped for speeding/Booked for failure to appear in 8-15/Pleaded not guilty/Misdemeanor trial in 5-17/All this only became known to the media in early 12-16
♦12-16 • Stepmom in late Dec., involved in domestic violence, restraining order issued & late Dec., stopped for a brake light or signal light not working/charged with possession of stolen vehicle/Charges dropped
So, stepmom as a mastermind criminal? Nah—except possibly in her own mind.
An emotionally disturbed woman who cannot explain to law enforcement her crucial 90 minute absence on the day her beloved “son” (as stepmom likes to repeat ad nauseam) vanished? Yes.
Israel Keyes? Isn’t blaming serial killers for every unsolved missing person’s case also a kind of “tunnel vision”?
Unfortunately, what also holds true, is that sometimes “bad people have a plan to do bad things” and they are known all too well to their victim.
And this from an article dated Sep 22, 2016 in Oregon Live:
Quote: Alexander provided a statement from the offices of the county district attorney and sheriff, as well. It reads, in full:
"Kyron Horman's parents and members of the public should know that the investigation into Kyron's disappearance is active, ongoing and includes a recent search effort. Ms. Horman has an open invitation to speak with MCSO.
"The Multnomah County District Attorney's was in contact with defense attorney Stephen Houze earlier this week and was advised that he continues to represent Terri Horman. Mr. Houze requests no contact with Ms. Horman by law enforcement absent his authorization and her consent."
Authorities conduct 'investigative search' regarding Kyron Horman case
How about this: why doesn’t stepmom make an appointment with her atty to accompany her to an interview with law enforcement? She could definitively end everyone’s speculation once and for all.
Or would a truthful interview result in self-incrimination? It’s easy to understand why it hasn’t happened to date, if that is the case. And why her atty does not advise such.
Sorry for the length.