Portland, Ore. — A grand jury continues to hear evidence in the disappearance of Kyron Horman and has met multiple times.
Details about the secret panel were described in a letter sent to KGW, in response to a public records appeal.
“The Multnomah County District Attorney’s office continues to empanel and offer evidence before a grand jury for the Kyron Horman case, meaning both the criminal investigation and legal proceedings are underway,” wrote Matt Semritc, deputy district attorney for Clackamas County. “The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that the grand jury has been convened on multiple occasions regarding the Kyron Horman case.”
On Monday, KGW reported on an uptick in activity surrounding the Horman case.
Police recently coordinated ground searches, detectives are analyzing new computer evidence and a grand jury remains empaneled to take evidence.
The new letter sent to KGW provides greater detail about those grand jury proceedings, including confirmation the grand jury met on several occasions.
Kyron Horman disappeared from Skyline School on June 4, 2010. He has never been found. The boy’s stepmother, Terri Horman, has long been the focus of investigators. She denies any involvement and has never been charged in the case.
Grand jury hearings are closed to the media and to the public. The secret panel can bring criminal charges or help collect information.
“Not all cases brought before the grand jury result in indictment,” cautioned Tung Yin of Lewis & Clark Law School.
The new details about grand jury activity in the Horman case came to light after a public records request. KGW requested a Multnomah County Sheriff’s office report into a murder-for-hire plot allegedly involving Terri Horman. Her ex-boyfriend said Horman tried to have him killed in Roseburg in 1990.
Investigators denied the public records, citing ongoing investigations.
The Multnomah County DA’s office referred the public records appeal to Clackamas County to avoid a conflict-of-interest.
On appeal, Clackamas County upheld the decision to keep the police reports confidential.
“These reports contain potential evidence, witnesses, and information that is helpful for developing leads as to the investigation into the disappearance of Kyron Horman,” Semritc wrote. “The Kyron Horman investigation is active and ongoing.”
