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You’ve all seen him by now. Kyron Horman. He is the cute little guy in glasses, standing in front of his science fair project on the red-eyed tree frog. He’s clearly so proud of himself. That picture was taken on the last day anyone saw Kyron. It was June 4th—seven weeks ago.
When I first met Kyron’s biological parents—Kaine Horman and Desiree Young— a couple of weeks ago, I was struck by how composed they were.
They had been through so much already. They seemed drained and deeply worried but also determined.
They told me they had turned a corner.
“I think I’ve moved past the sad, depressed all the time, crying nonstop-- to anger and frustration and dedication,” Desiree told me.
"It’s hard. I think we’re pretty much in the same place. It is—just that relentless focus to find him that, you know, drives us every day,” Kaine said.
I’m new to the Dateline NBC family so if you’re a die-hard NBC fan, you may not be familiar with my work. Over the years, I’ve been proud to cover a wide-range of stories that hopefully had an impact.
But the stories that stick with me forever are the stories that touch me as a parent.
I am the mother of two beautiful kids. I have a seven-year-old son. So when my new bosses asked me to travel to Portland, Oregon and meet with the parents of seven-year-old Kyron Horman I knew it would be a tough assignment. As parents, we all know intellectually that these are rare cases, but we can so easily imagine ourselves in the same position. The panic we would feel. The desperation.
Kyron’s elementary school was gracious enough to allow us inside to see his classroom. It is a beautiful old school, a throwback to a simpler time. There are little gardens planted by the children outside. The other day a few mothers were outside clearing away the weeds as summer vacation rolls on.
Kyron’s entire graduating class is just 26 kids. It’s the kind of rural community where everyone knows everyone.
I was struck by what a pretty area it is. There are rolling hills and old red barns next to vineyards and big swaths of tall pines.
Kyron’s parents are convinced that someone in that community knows where Kyron is. They want us to air an hour on "Dateline" because they hope it might help jar a memory, or convince someone to speak up. They’re convinced that Kyron is still alive. And with all my heart, I hope they’re right.
The report on the Kyron Horman case airs July 26, Dateline NBC Monday, 10 p.m./9 C. Watch a preview here. Learn more about Kate Snow and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
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I hope with all of my heart that Kyron is miraculously found alive and well. His family has not only had to deal with the unimaginable loss of their innocent little boy, but also extremely harsh criticism from complete strangers. May they keep strong and focused and bring Kyron home to the normal life of a seven year old child. God bless them all and I continue to pray for a wonderful reunion.
I hope with all of my heart that Kyron is returned safely to his family. Not only have they had to deal with the unimaginable horror of Kyron's disappearance, but they've also been subjected to endless criticism and ridicule by complete strangers. May they stay strong and determined for the ultimate goal of Kyron's return to the normal life of a child. I think of Kyron often during the day and I'm constantly on the lookout for this sweet little guy. Love, thoughts, hope and prayers are being sent from Massachusetts.
Sorry for the similar comment, but I didn't realize they would both post.
I cried every day for a year, that first year after my four children disappeared from Oregon fourteen years ago, in 1996.
Then a sort of aching numbness set in....
As the father of four children who disappeared from Oregon 14 years ago, I can tell you that there is no worse agony than not knowing where your children are, or when or if you will ever see them again, because they are in the hands of kidnappers.
My heart goes out to Kyron and to his family and loved ones and to all those families of missing children.
In 2005, the Oregon legislature passed its landmark anti-kidnapping bill, Senate Bill 1041, named Aarons Law for my son Aaron Cruz, who died earlier that year. Aaron was the only one of my children that I was able to recover, if only for a brief time.
With Aaron's Law, Oregon is the only state in the nation where abducting a child creates a civil cause of action, which holds any person participating in the abduction of a child financially accountable for the harm they are causing.
Each year more than 200,000 US children are abducted by parents, family members or persons known to the victims.
I hope a version of Aarons Law goes into effect in every state, and helps knock that 200,000 number down to zero.
You can find out about Aarons Law at www.aaronslaw.blogspot.com
The step mom must be guilty of something. But if and when the authorities charge her that top notch lawyer will claim munchausen by proxy and try to get her off with the mental defect defense. And the appalling thing is that so many times these stupid juries fall for that garbage.
I was glad to find out that Dateline was airing a report on this story. I've been keeping up with the developments in this case since the beginning and I too found Terri's account of what happened to be very suspicious from the get go. I guarantee you that if I was the stepmother of any missing child, I would be doing everything I could every singe day to help find the child. In my opinion, Terri's actions following Kyron's disappearance show a serious and disturbing lack of concern for Kyron's whereabouts. Is that because she already knows where he is because she put him there?
Maybe a psychic could help Kyron's family and I've wondered if they've considered hiring one. I have read that psychics have been used with some success by various law enforcement agencies in the past. Whatever the outcome, I wish Kyron and his family the best and I'm sending my prayers to Oregon everyday.
I was wondering if they used sniffer dogs of any type. I find it highly suspect that the mother drove around for 1 1/2 hours with a sick child. Did they ask what meds she could not find at the first Fred Meyer store? It was said that she had to go to another for the meds. Why won't she take a lie detector test? Many unanswered questions. I don't know.. I have a bloodhound and these dogs can find just about anything..
I pray that the family of little Kyron Horman gets the miracle they are hoping for. They are living every parent's worst nightmare. It is tragic that we live in a world where such things happen. If I were the parent, I would never give up the hope of him being found alive. Keep your faith, mom and dad! I had never heard of Aaron's Law before reading the above comment but it sounds like a wonderful idea to me. It should be brought into effect in all the states. I also think it would be a great addition to the laws of Canada, where I live. While no amount of monetary compensation will make up for the tragic loss of a beloved child or ease the pain of the grieving family, the law may go a long way towards making people think twice before aiding the kidnapper. I believe this might be especially true in the case of a non-custodial parent taking the child. Families and friends automatically help the offending parent, feeling that is where their loyalty belongs. May God Bless the Horman's and their beloved little boy, Kyron. <3<3
Based on the media's reporting, I hope the stepmom is guilty because if she isn't, another horrible tragedy has occurred. This child hasn't lived with his mother in five years and only visits one weekend out of every month and on holidays? Which holidays? Christmas and Thanksgiving? So even if the child visited on another weekend during those two months that is still just 14 times a year. As a mother, I just don't get it. But I found the fact that she's keeping his bed unmade and his toys out just where he left them odd reporting. When was he last there? Four weeks prior? And the bed still wasn't made. I guess technically speaking she only needs to wash the sheets a couple times a year. This is an absolute horrible horrible horrible event. But, I was really turned off by the reporter and the tv show making this all about the mother and her hatred for her former husband's mistress/wife.
I watched this report with much interest since, as with most of us, I received bits and pieces of information without it being in a cohesive story with a time line. However, I was not happy with the story since it glossed over how the school didn't know Kyron was missing. I've done substitute teaching and there is a procedure you go through in the classroom. You take attendance. If a child is absent you immediately notify the office and the staff checks with the parents. If you forget to notify the office in a timely manner, the office will call the classroom and ask for the absences and tardys. I would like to know what this school's policy and procedure is for checking on which children are in the classroom! This story reported on none of this and the very brief interview with the teacher made her seem as unaware as everyone else. That's crazy!
Having endured the experience of my 4 month old granddaughter being taken by her biological father (a psychopath now serving a life sentence for sexual abuse of his neice and stepson), we need to focus on the child and the parents. It is a parent or grandparent's worst nightmare. Ours ended after two weeks. Friends were generally supportive, but one said "You just have to get on with life." I am sorry, but that cannot happen for a while. I pray that Kyron is alive and well and will be returned safely to his parents. It can happen.