Arrest Long Overdue in Kyron Horman Disappearance

by Stacy Dittrich

It is the tenth week of the exhaustive search for an Oregon boy, seven-year-old Kyron Horman (left). On June 4, his stepmother, Terri Moulton Horman, 40, drove him to Skyline Elementary School in Northwest Multnomah County. The school was holding a science fair, and Terri claimed Kyron excitedly showed her his science project before she watched him walk down the hallway towards his classroom just before 8 a.m.

Around three that afternoon, Terri made the unusual request to her husband—and Kyron’s father, Kaine, 36. She wanted Kaine to accompany her to the bus stop to get Kyron off the bus. As the bus came and went, with no sign of Kyron, Terri made an overly emotional display of panic. Most parents would quickly check with the school to determine whether or not the child missed the bus before completely unraveling. They did check the school, however, and found that Kyron had been marked absent that day. No one had seen him, and he hadn’t made the 10 feet or so to his class as Terri watched him.

There’s another sordid and strange backdrop to this story. Kyron’s mother, Desiree, 38, married Kaine Horman in 2000. But in 2002, when she was eight months pregnant, Desiree filed for divorce. Kyron was born September 9, 2002. The couple shared custody of the newborn, but he mainly lived with Desiree.

In 2004, Desiree suffered debilitating kidney failure and was hospitalized for a significant amount of time in Canada. Kyron moved in with his father, who worked full time and desperately needed child care. Enter Terri Moulton—Desiree’s close friend and confidant. Terri, who now holds a master’s degree in education, was more than happy to oblige. Moving in with her 16-year-old son from her first marriage, Terri quit work to care for little Kyron—and pump up her muscles. In 2005, a huge and odd-looking Terry placed fourth in the Emerald Cup bodybuilding championships.

Meanwhile, Desiree was released from the hospital with a monstrous medical bill, forcing her to move in with her parents. Unable to support Kyron, she felt it best that he stay in the environment he had grown accustomed to -- with Kaine and Terri. Desiree relished the time she spent with Kyron on weekends.

Somewhere between late 2006 and early 2007, Terri and Kaine (yes, you guessed right) fell in love. In an attempt to help out her dear friend, Terri had successfully moved in on Desiree’s former husband and son. Kaine and Terri married in 2007 and went on to have their own child, Kiara, in December 2008. Terri continued to care for the young boy she had raised as a toddler, frequently volunteering in Kyron’s classroom. Regardless, on the morning of June 4, 2010, something clearly went wrong.

Shocking Revelations

Once Kyron was reported missing, a large search ensued. In fact, Kyron’s search has become the largest in Oregon’s history. But a few key facts kept bringing investigators right back to Terri.

The school claimed that Terri had phoned and said Kyron wouldn’t be in class on June 10th because he had a doctor’s appointment. Not so, said Terri. She claimed the appointment was the following Friday—a day when school was closed for the summer. Terri tripped up here, since there would be no reason for her to call, and any parent clearly knows when their child’s last day of school is.

Terri’s reaction to Kyron’s disappearance also had investigators scratching their heads. Just a few days after Kyron disappeared, Terri updated her Facebook page with “Headed to the gym!” And, investigators began circulating pictures of Terri’s white pick-up truck around the community; specifically, at the school. They wanted to know if any parents had witnessed Terri at the school that day—none had.

Furthermore, Terri’s cell phone pinged off a remote island five miles away at the time she claimed to have been at Kyron’s school dropping him off. At this same time, Terri’s close friend, DeDe Spicher, could not account for almost 90 minutes that she was gone from her gardening job that day. During the investigation, police learned that DeDe was providing untraceable cell phones for Terri to use.

Potentially the most shocking information came when investigators found that Terri was text messaging sexual innuendos, aka “sexting,” to Kaine Horman’s close friend just days after Kyron went missing. Investigators then learned the jaw-dropping information from another man Terri had propositioned for sex: Terri had tried to hire the man to kill her husband.

Lies, Lies, Lies

Investigators are now armed with substantial evidence that Terri Moulton Horman obstructed the investigation by lying about her location the day Kyron disappeared—a felony. More importantly, they have Terri conspiring to kill her own husband—a higher felony. And, by far the most important fact, they have a missing seven-year-old boy who was last seen in Terri’s care. Put all of this together and the probable cause for an arrest is overwhelming.

It has been 70 days since Kyron Horman disappeared, and Terri remains free.

To give credit to law enforcement, a grand jury has convened in the matter, and an indictment against Terri Horman seems inevitable. But she could have easily been incarcerated during this time on the other felonies. I understand the sheriff’s department is putting together an airtight investigation and doesn’t want any mistakes, but sometimes this is the type of case smaller law enforcement agencies which aren’t quite used to dealing with. They can become overly careful, all the while allowing someone like Terri Horman to remain free.

They’ve already caught Terri Horman attempting to take Kiara out of a daycare center despite a restraining order prohibiting her from any contact with the child. Another charge—violating a protection order. Who knows what else she is capable of? Hiring hit men, lying to investigators, a missing little boy? This woman is clearly dangerous and needs to be off the streets. If investigators are waiting for Terri to trip herself up while out and about, they should think again. If this were to happen, this educated woman would have done it already. She’s not going to talk—lock her up already!

Resolution

It appears that might be happening.

This past weekend, a large swath of law enforcement searched an area two miles from Kyron’s school as well as the area where Spicher was gardening. According to sources, this tip was based on Spicher’s information to law enforcement.

Regardless, a dangerous woman is still on the streets, and an innocent little boy is missing. It is past time to put Terri Moulton Horman where she deserves to be—in jail.

DeDe Spicher is the key here. Aiding Terri with "burn" cell phones and a place to stay, while being unable to account for her time when Kyron disappeared, she is undoubtedly in the thick of it. Investigators executed a search warrant on Spicher’s residence. DeDe has since retained an attorney (clue!). She no doubt can give investigators the answers they desperately seek. Did Terri hurt Kyron while in the throes of a post-partum-psychosis/steroid rage? Did she hurt Kyron because she couldn’t get to Kaine?

Most importantly, where is Kyron? If Spicher’s involvement is as deep as helping Terri get rid of Kyron’s body or aiding in the killing, chances are Terri is reminding Spicher that if she goes down, they both go down. Investigators need to hammer down on Spicher, even if it means the prosecution offers her a plea deal in exchange for her testimony.

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