Kyron Horman's mom drops civil suit, criminal investigation continues
PORTLAND -- Kyron Horman's mother announced tearfully Tuesday that she is giving up on her civil lawsuit against Terri Horman, but she is not giving up on finding her son.
"I will find you. It's all I want. I will not stop, I will never stop," said Desiree Young.
Young announced she has dropped her civil lawsuit against Kyron's stepmom to avoid interfering with the ongoing criminal investigation. Desiree Young's civil case was intended to compel Kyron's stepmother to talk about the boy's disappearance. Young believes Horman kidnapped him.
During a press conference Tuesday, Young said the only way for her civil suit to proceed was to have access to police records about the investigation. That would not be allowed under public records law, she said.
Young also addressed Terri Horman directly: "Terry, I cannot tolerate this silence," she said.
To pursue the civil case and to go after the police records could threaten the criminal case, she explained. Young said she wants no part of hindering that criminal investigation.
"I'm very disappointed that we can't move forward," she said. "I don't want anything to compromise the ongoing investigation."
She said that Horman continues to stonewall investigators. "I'm still going to bring pressure on Terri. I'm not going away," Young said.
A key witness was now cooperating with investigators, according to Young's attorney Elden Rosenthal.
DeDe Spicher testified before the grand jury for the criminal case within the past two weeks, according to Rosenthal. Spicher was friends with Terri and her whereabouts were in question the day Kyron vanished. She had previously declined to speak with investigators or testify.
The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office also reiterated that the criminal investigation remains active and released a statement about 3 hours after Young's big announcement.
"Sheriff Staton wants the citizens of Multnomah County to know this criminal investigation remains a high priority for the Sheriff's Office and that it will continue unimpeded. The integrity and security of the investigation remains foremost for this agency," the statement read.
Meantime, Young has not given up hope that Kyron can be found. "Every day you are not here safe in my arms is another day of agonizing torture," she said.
Young filed the $10 million civil case against Horman on June 4 , 2012 in connection with the 7-year-old boy's disappearance two years earlier. Her lawsuit asked the court to compel Terri Moulton Horman to disclose Kyron's location. It also included two claims: One for custodial interference and one for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
However, the case was stopped in its tracks last November, when the judge delayed the civil proceedings, explaining that it "could impact an ongoing criminal investigation."
"Premature disclosure of the information contained in these documents could jeopardize that ongoing investigation," D.A. Michael Schrunk said at the time. "Sealing these documents is in the best interests of justice, will preserve the integrity of the investigation, and will promote the safety of the witnesses involved."
Kyron vanished after a science fair at Skyline Elementary School in 2010. Terri Horman was his step-mother at the time and was questioned on multiple occasions by investigators, but never arrested.
Young said that she initially decided to pursue the civil case in an effort to try and get Horman to tell investigators what happened to Kyron because she believes Terri kidnapped him. Young's attorney said the lawsuit would enable him to subpoena witnesses, acquire documents and evidence and "peel away the mystery" of what happened to Kyron.
Timeline: The Search for Kyron Horman
His stepmother, Terri, was the last person to have seen him, investigators said. Horman has retained a lawyer, moved into seclusion at her parents' home in Roseburg, and has refused to talk any further with detectives.
Nobody has been named a person of interest or a suspect in the case, but Young and Kyron’s father, Kaine Horman, have both said they believe Terri was behind his disappearance.
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