Search Continues For Missing Second-Grader

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Authorities searching for a second-grader who failed to return home from school Friday said they are turning to the boy's classmates for clues to his disappearance.

Multnomah County Lt. Harry Smith said investigators will interview Skyline Elementary School students Sunday about 7-year-old Kyron Horman, who authorities said was last seen by his stepmother, Terri Moulton Horman, at 8:45 a.m. Friday at the school.

Although the search was temporarily halted Saturday night, investigators said they are working "24/7" to develop new search plans and prepare for the interviews with students, their parents, teachers and guests who were in the rural northwest Portland school Friday.

"Tomorrow will be a difficult day for kids, but important," Smith said. "We will have people on hand to delicately and appropriately work with kids and families and staff at the school."

Smith said Skyline parents should have been notified when to stop by the school, but can drop in any time Sunday to speak with investigators. Interviews began at 10 a.m. and should finish by 4 p.m.

"This is a very difficult thing -- one of the hardest things to deal with," Smith said. "Our investigators are top notch. Everything we're doing is toward the goal of bringing Kyron home."

Authorities had no comment if the ground search for Kyron revealed any evidence, but Smith said search and rescue crews -- joined by the FBI and the National Guard -- completed an "immediate grid search" of an area around the school Saturday.

Authorities said crews searched the two miles surrounding the school. Smith described the terrain around Skyline as rough, with steep inclines and ravines.

Gina Zimmerman, the president of the school's parent teacher association, said Kyron was excited for a school science fair being held Friday and his project was about a red-eyed tree frog.

Moulton Horman said goodbye to Kyron while they were at the science fair and then watched him walk off to his classroom, but he never made it to class, deputies said.

"He's not the kind of child that would just go out of school, go searching or wandering around," Zimmerman said. "He's just a timid, sweet boy."

Kyron's absence went unnoticed throughout the day, deputies said, and he was not reported missing until hours later.

Sheriff's Capt. Jason Gates said teachers described Kyron as "an energetic student, a very social kid who loves to play soccer and build model cars with his dad." Gates said deputies have been working with Kyron's family and have received "a ton of information from them that helps us very much."

Kyron was supposed to be dropped off at the school bus stop near his house at about 3:45 p.m. Friday. Moulton Horman quickly realized her child was missing and then called the school, said Lt. Mary Lindstrand of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.

School administrators said they started a search in the area but they were unable to find the boy. They called the non-emergency dispatch line to report Kyron as missing.

Officials with Portland Public Schools said they used their phone notification system to contact other parents and inform them that Kyron was reported missing.

Deputies launched their search at about 5:45 p.m. -- nearly nine hours after the boy was last seen. Since then, a number of local, state and federal police agencies have joined the search.

"We want to throw everything we can at this," Gates said. "If it were my son, this is what I would want to see."

As of 8 p.m. Saturday, there was no indication of foul play in Kyron’s disappearance, but deputies upgraded the investigation to involve a major crimes team. Lindstrand said this allows more resources -- including those of the FBI and Oregon State Police -- to be used in the search.

Multnomah County deputies asked that civilian volunteers stay away from the search scene Saturday.

With a number of neighboring police agencies and the FBI helping in the search, deputies said civilian volunteers searching in the area will only complicate the process.

"We would appreciate if the civilian volunteers keep Kyron in your prayers, but please don't come to the scene because it affects our efficiency," Gates said.

Neighbors who live near Skyline Elementary School have been asked to perform a "no-stone-unturned" search of their property.

"It would be very, very helpful to our process. If they find anything out of place, contact us through our tip line," Gates said.

Skyline School is located at 11536 NW Skyline Blvd. in a rural area of northwest Portland.

Kyron lives with his father and stepmother. He has an older half-brother.

Anyone who may have any information on Kyron’s whereabouts is asked to call 503-261-2847. He was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with the CSI logo on it.