Kyron Richard Horman, a bright and curious seven-year-old boy, disappeared on June 4, 2010, under circumstances that remain deeply perplexing.
The last confirmed sighting of Kyron was at a science fair at Skyline Elementary School in Portland, Oregon.
Despite a massive search and years of investigation involving local authorities, state police, and the FBI, no significant leads have been found.
Kyron’s disappearance stands as Oregon’s largest criminal investigation, a haunting mystery that continues to baffle investigators and devastate his family.
Kyron was born on September 9, 2002, in Portland, Oregon, to Desiree Young and Kaine Horman.
Kaine, an engineer at Intel, and Desiree separated during her pregnancy, citing irreconcilable differences.
Although the two initially shared custody of Kyron, Kaine assumed full custody in 2004 after Desiree was diagnosed with kidney failure, a condition that required extensive treatment.
Despite this arrangement, Desiree maintained an active presence in Kyron’s upbringing, ensuring he felt the love and care of both parents.
In 2007, Kaine married Terri Moulton, a substitute teacher from Roseburg, Oregon.
The two had begun their relationship during Kaine’s separation from Desiree.
They married in Hawaii, and in 2008, they welcomed a daughter, Kiara. Kyron, the elder sibling, attended Skyline Elementary School, where he thrived academically and participated in events like the school’s annual science fair.
The morning of June 4 began like any other day for Kyron and his family.
Terri Horman accompanied Kyron to Skyline Elementary School to attend the science fair, an event where Kyron proudly displayed his project on red-eyed tree frogs.
Photographs taken that day show Kyron smiling beside his project, unaware of the tragedy about to unfold.
According to Terri, she last saw Kyron walking down the school hallway toward his classroom at around 8:45 a.m.
She reported leaving the school shortly afterward.
However, Kyron never made it to his first class and was marked absent.
Terri’s statements to investigators detail her activities after leaving the school.
She reportedly visited two Fred Meyer grocery stores and drove around with her infant daughter in an attempt to soothe the toddler’s earache.
Later, she exercised at a local gym before returning home at 12:40 p.m. At 1:21 p.m., she posted photos of Kyron at the science fair on Facebook.
At 3:30 p.m., Terri and Kaine walked to the bus stop to meet Kyron, only to discover that he wasn’t on the bus.
A call to Skyline Elementary revealed that Kyron hadn’t been seen at school since the morning.
Alarmed, the school secretary contacted 911, marking the start of a frantic search for the missing boy.
The search for Kyron began immediately, focusing on a two-mile radius surrounding Skyline Elementary.
Law enforcement expanded the search to include Sauvie Island, located about six miles from the school.
Authorities remained tight-lipped about why these areas were prioritized but conducted thorough sweeps, including a search of the Sauvie Island Bridge.
Over the next several days, the search effort grew to include hundreds of volunteers and law enforcement personnel.
On June 9, the Horman family issued a public statement, urging the community to assist in locating Kyron. The statement read:
“Kyron’s family would like to thank people for their support and interest in finding their son. The outpouring of support and continued effort strengthens their hope. We need for folks to continue to assist us in our goal. Please search your properties—cars, outbuildings, sheds, etc. Check with neighbors and friends who may be on vacation or need help searching. There are resources available to help you, so please don’t stop. This is obviously a difficult time, and they want to keep the focus on Kyron.”
By June 12, over 300 trained searchers scoured the wooded areas around the school, while many more volunteers combed nearby neighborhoods.
The search, which spanned ten days, involved over 1,300 people from Oregon, Washington, and California.
Despite these efforts, no substantial evidence was found.
The case quickly became one of the most expensive and resource-intensive investigations in Oregon history, with costs exceeding $1.4 million.
As the search for Kyron continued, scrutiny began to fall on Terri Horman.
Investigators received information suggesting she had approached the family’s landscaper, Rodolfo Sanchez, months before Kyron’s disappearance, allegedly offering him money to kill Kaine Horman.
Sanchez cooperated with authorities, wearing a wire during a confrontation with Terri, but no incriminating evidence was obtained.
Kaine later filed for divorce and secured a restraining order against Terri, citing concerns for his safety and the safety of their daughter.
Terri also became the focus of the investigation due to her inconsistent statements and failure to pass multiple polygraph tests.
Witnesses reported seeing another individual inside her truck near Skyline Elementary on the morning of Kyron’s disappearance, though this person has never been identified.
Meanwhile, friends of Terri, including DeDe Spicher, came under scrutiny.
DeDe was reportedly unaccounted for during a critical three-hour window on the day Kyron vanished and later assisted Terri in purchasing an untraceable cell phone.
In June 2012, Desiree Young filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against Terri Horman, alleging that she was responsible for Kyron’s disappearance.
The lawsuit sought to prove that Terri had abducted Kyron.
However, in July 2013, Desiree withdrew the lawsuit, stating her intention not to interfere with the ongoing police investigation.
Despite these legal efforts, the case remains unsolved.
In 2017, a secret grand jury panel convened multiple times to review evidence, but no indictments were issued.
Searches conducted as recently as July 2017 along Skyline Boulevard yielded no new information.
Kyron Horman’s disappearance has continued to captivate public attention, spurring numerous media investigations and public appeals.
In 2016, Terri Horman appeared on Dr. Phil, denying any involvement in Kyron’s disappearance.
She suggested that Kyron may have been abducted, referencing a suspicious man in a white pickup truck near a 7-Eleven on the morning of the incident.
The case has also been the subject of books and documentaries.
Rebecca Morris’s Boy Missing: The Search for Kyron Horman was published in 2020, offering a detailed account of the case.
The story was also featured in the television series Real Life Nightmare in an episode titled “Vanished from School.”
As of today, Kyron Horman’s fate remains unknown.
The case continues to be an active investigation, with law enforcement pursuing any credible leads.
Kyron’s disappearance has left a lasting impact on his family, the community, and countless others who hold out hope for answers.
In the words of his mother, Desiree Young: “We will never give up searching for Kyron. Someone knows something. We just need them to come forward.”
Featured Image: Originally posted at Terri Horman’s Facebook page, the picture has appeared on numerous news sources.
