Kyron Horman, a seven year old Portland native, has been missing for five days. He disappeared from Skyline Elementary School after a science fair on Friday. Since then twenty-two state, local and federal agencies have been tracking down more than 1,200 tips in search of the child, but so far his fate remains a mystery. Volunteers and sheriff’s deputies have been searching the dense undergrowth around the school as well, but with no luck.
Kelly Ramirez, the boy’s aunt, issued a statement on Monday evening thanking those who have ”worked tirelessly on Kyron’s behalf” and asking that anyone who can print up fliers and distribute them.
“Above all do not give up hope, as we certainly never will,” she said. “He is out there and we are going to find him and bring him home safe where he belongs.”
The searchers aren’t giving up either. Multnomah County sheriff’s Capt. Jason Gates said at a press conference that although the sheriff’s office will “continue this investigation until there’s a resolution,” he hopes to have the search concluded by the end of the week. As of yet the case is still considered a “missing endangered child” investigation, not a criminal case. Gates said that “when we have elements or specific information about this case that would lead us in a direction where there are crimes” his office would open a criminal investigation.
Kyron was last seen by his stepmother at nine o’clock on Friday morning, walking down the school hallway towards his second grade classroom. His parents did not know he was missing until he failed to get off the school bus after school and it was discovered that he never made it to class. The school didn’t tell the family that Kyron hadn’t been in class until they called looking for him.
Anyone with information on Kyron’s whereabouts is urged to call the Multhnomah County Sheriff’s Office tip line at (503)-261-2847.
