Kyron Horman Missing: Terri Horman Retains HEAVY HITTER HOUZE
Portland, OR– Early this evening, Stephen Houze, prominent Portland criminal defense attorney leveled the playing field.
He is representing Terri Horman, step-mom of missing child Kyron Horman.
The announcement comes on the heels of the filing of divorce by her estranged husband Kaine, and inside sources that state her arrest is imminent.
Check back to blinkoncrime.com for updates.
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@TunedIn: Personally, I do not think it odd to hire a lawn care specialist without spousal permission. I hire lawn care without asking permission. And just this week my spouse had a gutter guy here– without my permission… But, neither of us are control freaks and respect each others judgment.
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I think it depends on how the couple usually operate. And I don’t think it’s control-freak to discuss it anymore than it is disregard for or lack of respect for the other not to discuss it. I think it’s a mutually agreed upon approach. For some couples, operating independently, as you & your husband do, works just fine. For others, there’s a mutual decision making/discussion. I would discuss it so that we agreed on how much, who to hire, etc. I’m far from control-freak, I’m just a mutual decision-maker in those “couples” types of categories, esp if a regular, committed amount of money is involved. Just how I am. And I can discuss it without assuming that I’m doing so because my judgement isn’t respected. I know that it is respected. I just discuss it because.
So, jmo, but in the case of TH & KH, if they normally discussed these things, and then TH hired this guy without discussing it, *that* would be the odd part. If they never discussed these things, and TH was in charge of all household decisions sans discussions, then this would be usual behavior, and therefore not odd.
@shelbar: you asked “what TIME did she send the EMAIL about picking up the science project?”
I’ve heard it was a phone call. I’d like to know which because in my wee brain there’s a big difference between calling & emailing in this type of situation. Do you know which it was?
Landscapers have access to vehicles, tools, and maybe from time to time use poisons. Maybe she figured he’d be a good person to approach.
Still bothers me about kidney loss/failure situation of Kyron’s mother, if it wasn’t natural causes, it’s timing was ripe for another woman to step in.
Can’t imagine it being easy to find someone to kill a child.
Like Haleigh, it’s such a sad case, these little people had much to contend with and were so completely defenseless.
@lizzy, I don’t think it’s for his 15 minutes, and my guess, only a guess, is that if there weren’t some credibility to it, LE wouldn’t have shared the info with Kyron. I’ve read that LE doesn’t share info w/family members in MP cases unless it is both credible & important. Blink is the one who’d know what is usually shared, and how credible this must be. But here’s the clip re: the landscaper, and I’d say Tanner’s grammie was looking for 15 minutes, and this guy, not so much. JMO.
“The landscaper, contacted by The Oregonian last week, confirmed that he was hired to do lawn work at the Horman home off Northwest Sheltered Nook Road. He said he’s talked with detectives and could not comment further. His name is being withheld to protect his identity as a cooperating witness in an ongoing criminal investigation. “
she asks a landscaper to murder her husband- isnt that way out of his pay scale?
WHY didnt he report this to police first thing 6 mo ago? Was he mulling over to do it?
- ” truth IS stranger than fiction”
@ pink angel,
Re your comment: Wanna bet James Pitkin knew on June 28th about the landscaper?
Angel, this was my first thought as soon as I read this article this morning! I’ll bet Pitkin did know! & furthermore, I’m combing every single landscaper in that county (bc it was stated somewhere that he advertised?…forget where I saw that) to see if maybe she could have been linked to him. Reason I’m wondering is bc how could anybody come out of the blue & ask a landscaper if they can “take out” somebody…and offer them money to do so. Plus, when viewing the pictures of their house & land, doesn’t appear to me that any professional landscaping has been done in years. Then again, maybe I’m wrong. Wow! Something else, the police sought him & interviewed him. I’d like to know if he went to them first via a 911 call, call to tip line after Kyron’s story broke, or did he walk right into the popo? OR did the police seek him out? If it’s the latter with le seeking him out, then they had to have basis to do so. What would be their basis? Could she have had an affair with him? I know I threw that out there but in looking at their house & land pictures, it really doesn;t appear as if a professional lanscaper was doing work there over an extended period of time, let alone a single day. Just my observation, which may not mean much…
@Tunedin: “Personally, I do not think it odd to hire a lawn care specialist without spousal permission.”
Agreed, but isn’t doing something without spousal permission quite a bit different than doing it without spousal *knowledge*?
This case is so incredibly sad. I always want to give people the benefit of the doubt, but the longer I’m alive the more apparent it is that “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” usually proves true…
I’ve always thought that Kyron’s disappearance might have to do with James, and his being sent to live elsewhere… Horrifying how some people think and use innocent children to get back at their partners.
I pray that Kyron is still alive and will make it back home somehow asap.
@ Jackie Bauer: your right everyone operates differently. And LE probably does find it odd that this got past Kaine. Not becasue it is generally odd, but because Kaine has demonstrates that he is a take charge kinda guy.
What I find odd is that 6-7 months later a landscaper comes out of the blue to say…oh yeah, this is the woman that offered me money to kill her husband. Or, if he did not come forward and was tracked down by LE combing through persons having contact with the Hormans, would say yep, I did lawn work: killed some weeds and as a bonus, she offered me money to kill her husband too…
He had their address, presumably a phone number and if he thought there was criminal intent he should have reported it at the time of the alleged proposition. If only to make sure he wasn’t getting set up by some whack job–she contacted him. Terri is also known to like true crime.. murder for hire is rarely successful.
IMHO, Kaine is a systems architect and that requires very high level complicated cause and effect thinking. My gut can’t move on from that. At every juncture in this case he has been orchestrating–and every time he says let’s keep this on Kyron, there is some leak from their camp that does the exact opposite.
There’s some really interesting info on here re: sociopaths.
http://www.crimeandfederalism.com/sociopathy_project/
I will say again, I know a sociopath, he is someone every person on this site would trust on the surface. Quite “noble”. Too good to be true, he is, and that’s because he’s not true. And when his wife falls victim to an accident (sailing, I’d bet), he’ll have been the loving spouse for several years. And when he gets all of the money, land, house, etc. (all of which is hers because he brought no money of his own, only massive debt that he ran away from in this country), he will have a payoff that was worth faking it for a few years. And no, I’m not the bitter or bereaved ex-spouse, just someone who got close enough to see behind the curtain, and ran like hell out of fear. So, *if* TH is a sociopath, she could easily have faked all of this to get what she wanted, and then she could get rid of the “extras” (Kaine and Kyron come to mind).
The article claims that LE found it odd that TH hired a landscaper without Kaine’s knowledge, NOT without his permission. Those are two entirely different words with entirely different meanings. I’d find it odd if my husband hired someone to do work on our yard and never mentioned it to me…very odd, and likewise, he’d think the same.
It also doesn’t seem as though the landscaper contacted the media, but that someone in LE leaked it…also that LE uncovered the plot when they contacted that landscaper (i.e., he didn’t approach them). IMO, that probably means the landscaper isn’t looking for his 15 minutes of fame. And it explains the sudden divorce proceedings, why the judge sealed the RO, and why TH’s high profile lawyer hasn’t been making the rounds in the media.
It also might explain how TH could hire such an expensive lawyer…she seems to have access to money outside of Kaine’s salary.
Two things:
I don’t understand the comments from some posters about Kaine’s “Control Freak” behavior. What is the basis of those comments? Seriously. Don’t get that one.
I’m following the hunch that Kyron is being held somewhere by the person(s) SM hired to abduct Kyron from school…and yes, I agree with Blink that that person is someone Kaine & Terri both know. I’m curious to know more about Kyron’s glasses found in the Horman’s mailbox with a note…or is that just speculation? ah, sorry for the pun.
In light of this mornings revelations (if they are true) I have a theory. I’m just going to put it out there for discussion.
Six or 7 months ago Terry finds out that Kaine in someway hurt her teenage son (now living with bio-dad). Terry not being in the best of mental health, because of postpartum depression or some other mental illness, decided to take matters into her own hands and have Hubby killed. Hubby is still alive, so we can assume that either she did not follow through with it or it was still in the works.
Fast forward 6 months….Kyron does something to hurt the baby, Terry snaps and does something with Kyron.
It’s the only scenario that I can come up with that makes any sense.
OMGosh, Blink! I’m looking & looking over landscapers & now my mind is wandering…what about if this guy isn;t a “landscaper” as we know? Ie: Maybe he advertises in Craig’s List to “Mow” some grass or “Trim” some hedges… No, I’m not being sarcastic, swear to gosh, just being open minded with the “Swinging” idea…
The landscaper claims that Terri wanted to hire him to Kill her husband, but this murder obviously didn’t happen. I can’t figure out why, if this is the case, that he would not have turned her in if he wasn’t the kind of guy to do something horrible like that. Maybe that is just a cover for him to explain why they were in contact. Maybe the real plot was for him to take or murder Kyron rather than Kaine.I hope they are checking this guy out really well because I just can’t seem to find a good reason for him not coming forward, especially after he found out that Kyron had disappeared.
My other thought (unrelated)is that she could be being set up. Kaine was able to walk away with their daughter as a result of this information. Could the landscaper be being paid to tell this story to make her look guilty of doing something to Kyron? If Kyron was to show up eventually, Kaine would have his divorce, custody of his children, and probably would not have to split his assets with Terri. Doubtful scenario, but possible.
Geez, what kind of environment was Kyron living in? Holy Moly! Seems like both parents had their own agendas. Poor kid!!!!! Bless you little red eyed frog man.
IMO murder-for-hire, where one’s husband, the father of your child, is the target, is on a moral par with harming that man’s child by another woman.
That said, the landscaper story reminds me of Elizabeth Smart. Someone doing work at the house, then a child is abducted. Is this what TH is/will attempting to use as her defense against the accusation? The landscaper did it?
@ Jackie Bauer
;o) I really wasn’t directing that at you directly but anyone that could answer the email letter directly I guess. Sorry if it came across directed at you. I have worked in corporate America, I think on a smaller scale then Intel, clearly. I also come from a long line of small business owners am one myself with my husband. Pretty proud of that. So I guess it’s beyond my comprehension to have an email come from someone in KH situation. If KH worked for me he would have NO responsibility and as owners and management would take care of ALL responsibilities! So yes, I get if talking to legal in regards to his laptop was an issues I would have dealt with that or made that call for him. Really the only part of that email that does not make sense to me is the media part. That email was sent on Sunday morning ( I believe) Kyron’s JUST missing. Media was still his “friend” all of them. But already he is isolating himself from them, why? I get he wants to keep the focus on Kyron but unfortunately for him the way LE figures out what happed to Kyron is to figure out what KH and TH where doing prior. You can’t expect journalist to not report the story.
@Angie
Looks like they are starting to leak…………hmmmmmmmmm
@ Kool Look
I really enjoyed reading what you had to say! I thought it was right on!
Coming from a family of divorce and knowing several people that gone through divorce it is not standard procedure to have a RO! It is standard to have wording in your divorce papers if you have children that states that you will not leave the state or so many miles without permission from the other parent. My brother just went through a custody case (was not married) and no RO was filed but the wording was in the paperwork.
In my humble opionion, I think it is time for Kaine Horman to come clean on his own activities. Might bring a lot of perspective and show the whole picture, and help find Kyron.
I like what B said before:
“There are three sides to every story. His side. Her side. The Truth”
Totally unbelievable. Well, now we know what happened that day. I hope the landscaper didn’t give her a referral list. Too bad he didn’t mention this before now.
Lizzy, your snip of your post made me laugh out loud-I needed that, thanks.
lizzy says:
July 4, 2010 at 10:05 am
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/07/landscaper_tells_police_terri.html
But why on EARTH would she hire a landscaper thinking he would be a likely candidate to murder for $$$? I don’t follow the logic at all. I mean, do you get out the phone book, and say “I need an assassin, so let’s look under lawn care?” Did she think he’d have the equipment to dig a hole or what?
I believe 100% the finger pointing begins now, and hopefully will result in Kyron’s recovery.
God have mercy on their souls
B
One great big sigh…………………………………………………..
Re: cc says: July 3, 2010 at 7:06 pm
@cc — Curious what the connection might be, between Villarreal and this case?
Did I miss something re: Villarreal?
CECI: according to James Pitkin Williammette Week, James went to live with Tarver one day after Kyron was missing.
D.A. says:
July 4, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Re: cc says: July 3, 2010 at 7:06 pm
@cc — Curious what the connection might be, between Villarreal and this case?
Other than this person lives just over two miles away from the school and less than one mile away from the Hormans, what is the connection?
snapoutofit says:
July 4, 2010 at 4:17 pm
CECI: according to James Pitkin Williammette Week, James went to live with Tarver one day after Kyron was missing.
No, move out dates of both January and March of this year have been reported. His bio dad said he came the day after to start a week long visit with the Hormans, but they pulled him out a few days later because of all the media.
@christy says:
July 4, 2010 at 6:19 am
Christy not changing my opinion of DEXTER…
Don’t have any children but I know what you are talking about I have seen THAT many times. Nevermind that my brother pushed my sister off a cliff (she survived) and tried to electrocute me several times! (We all survived and can laugh about it now!!) But this was different not a reaction to a child pinching, pulling hair, poking out eyes…trying to suffocate. This was ABNORMAL. But like I said with lots of support from family and friends the situation was remedied. It was a long time ago but what changed my mind about ppd being a bunch of nonsense.
@oneilgirl75: I didn’t take your response “personally” re: the letter. It’s just you brought it up and so I was addressing it from another POV. Sometimes I probably comment the wrong way because I don’t know what the heck I’m really doing
@TunedIn: I agree that this whole murder-for-hire thing is bizarre. This story plowed over the surreality speed bump doing about 75 mph and never even hit the brakes. But bizarre as it is, according to Blink’s next post “detectives informed Kaine Horman of the confirmed finding” so it looks like it might be true…
Re: James’s move out dates —
I’ve read that he was sent to live with his maternal grandmother in January and then over to Tarver in March.
The January timeline coincides with trouble brewing in the Horman household 6 – 7 months ago, as per the landscaper/lover’s story.
That said, the l/l’s allegation raises more questions than it appears to answer… Thankfully, Blink has set up another thread just for this …
Please, somehow, let that sweet little boy be safe.
@jackie bauer. I first read she called the school, then someone corrected me and said email. So I don’t know for sure. I would like a timeline. And for God’s sake, will someone arrest this woman.
@shelbar: I’m with you on the arrest. Maybe LE just wants to make sure they get all of her crimes IDd before they lock her up.
If email, then I really lean towards checking to see if Kyron had been found missing by the school. Gather some information, but not required to demonstrate acting skills.
This new information has me thinking. I’m curious if she took out life insurance before trying to hire him to murder Kaine. Then, when that didn’t work, could she have had Kyron “kidnapped”. To get some sort of ransom? Is something going on as far as her needing money? Another man, a drug problem, or maybe even a gambling habit?maybe someone is holding the little boy until Terri gives the ok? Could she have sent the glasses to stage a kidnapping?
I really hope it’s something like this. A happy ending where he is found safe and alive, and SM goes to prison forever!
This article states that Houze is currently on the east coast:
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/07/landscaper_tells_police_terri.html
Could Houze’s trip have something to do with information TH gave him? There were reports earlier of a possible sighting of Kyron in VA.
I have only recently found blinkoncrime and really appreciate the investigative efforts and standards displayed by those who post here. I have been an educator and counselor for over 30 years and I never cease to be amazed and fascinated by how people think and what they do to get their perceived needs met.
I have been following the postings that have been identified (by research or readers) as possibly by Terri – 2, maybe 3, in particular that I personally think she is writing after various news reports. I thought they would stop after she got an attorney, but they have continued. To others who may be following also, have you noticed an increase in her spelling errors and, although the tone and intent seem the same, more anxiety in her expression? My sense is either she is becoming more and more disturbed or may be drinking when she writes these. I do not intend this to be a criticism so much as a deep concern about what she may do next, if this perception is true.
I suspect she may be somewhat addicted to the internet and is not likely to stop or to be having someone post for her, although that’s possible. My biggest concern about this is that if she is a danger to others and herself right now, and something should happen to her, valuable information leading to resolving this case might be lost forever.
Great observations Mockinbirdsings. I think its reasonable to assume shes at the least medicated with some type of anti depressant, anxiety meds. Any loving Mother/Father seeing their daughter going through this would take her to a Doctor or seek medical attention. Even LE probably has reccommended she be treated professionally. Its a lot to face and deal with guilty or innocent.
Oneilgirl, thank you. Glad you keep comprehend my writings. Sometimes I re-read it several times after posting and realize my thoughts jump sometimes and wonder if the reader comprehends my points.
This new landscaper possible lover revelation is a big twist. If true, we’ve been spot on concerning some of Kaines culpability. Good supportive loving king husbands for the most part aren’t in danger of being hunted down and assassinated on behalf of their Beloved Wives. So if its true, it adds validity to my thoughts concerning Kaines own role in this family dynamic. Though I’m not giving Terri one iota of kudos if this is true. Shame on her and glad she’s caught if so.
The question for me is: Does this revelation of murder for hire have anything to do with Kyrons disappearance? I hope not.
TY.
Gawd those are sneaky buggers
B
Karen says:
July 5, 2010 at 12:21 am
Could Houze’s trip have something to do with information TH gave him? There were reports earlier of a possible sighting of Kyron in VA.
Hi Karen. Nope. That’s not what attorneys do. Sightings in other areas of the country should be reported to the Tip Line AND local LE (local to the sighting).
Jackie B. Thanks for responding. No worries. Some people were taking things they read at Psychics united to find missing children and posting it on other sites. I realize you were not trying to steal my ideas and you did say you were paraphasing. Don’t want to get uptight. Just want all of us to brainstorm as much as we can and do give credit when we can. All that is secondary to finding Kyron. I want to know if anyone is going to send a dive team to where Harry Oakes’ dogs alerted. And he pulled the monkey sock out of the water. Maybe she took him home and had him change his clothes before his “appointment”.
@Kool Look: Or maybe, TH is a true sociopath and Kaine didn’t do anything to “deserve” being murdered. Just a thought. The women who were murdered by their husbands–did they “deserve” it? NOPE. So even if KH were a total jerk, would he deserve murder? I can’t imagine a person on here saying Lacie Peterson asked for it, or that Stacie Peterson deserved it? No. So why, for all Kaine’s faults, without any real evidence to support these suppositions, does Kaine deserve murder, asked for it, and is assigned “culpability” because “Good supportive loving king husbands for the most part aren’t in danger of being hunted down and assassinated on behalf of their Beloved Wives. So if its true, it adds validity to my thoughts concerning Kaines own role in this family dynamic.” The key phrase in your statement is “for the most part” and everything about this case seems to not fall into the “for the most part” category. I don’t know Kaine, and there’s not been much info re: his personality, and what has been put out there has been interpreted differently. JMO but it sure seems like no one would be saying Lacie Peterson must have been a bad wife if her husband murdered her.
Another thing I should add is that the sociopath I know of is living with a woman who is, by all accounts, very nice, and I know she is beyond gullible, and easily controlled. That said, she is, because of her vulnerability and lack of smarts, helping this man to live under another name, in another country, under the radar from the authorities, while evading tax & financial consequences here in the U.S. So when the sociopath does something awful and ruins her life (either by killing her or cheating on her or a mix of both), will she have deserved it? NOPE. She’ll have made some bad choices, that’s for sure, and she’ll have seriously enabled a sociopath to do what they do best, but for all her flaws, she won’t deserve murder.
Sorry for the diatribe, but I just think logic is in order here. I believe in holding people responsible for their actions, but no one deserves to be murdered by their spouse.
If this is the same Avery V, his younger brother is in Ms. Porter’s class at Skyline (Kyron’s class).
@Mary: you get full credit for your POV, and it was one I obviously thought worthy. But the reason I paraphrased instead of taking it in its entirety is because I didn’t know if you (the author) would mind since it wasn’t even on the same blog. I didn’t know if it was okay to cross-post you. So I tried to give as much credit as I could without screwing up. Of course, I screwed up anyway, but at least with good intentions
I’m actually not worried about getting any credit, though, *unless* (and this is a critical unless) Blink does start giving out cookies. Then, all the good ideas are mine 
All that said, I guess KH really didn’t want to sleep by someone who had tried to have him killed. How surreal it must be to find out that you were on a hit list, and put there by your wife. Just back in April they were playing mini-golf, and that was after the murder-for-hire plan. Seriously, wouldn’t it be hard to play mini-golf, smile, and take pictures with the kids all the while wishing that you could just find the right person to kill your hubbie? It’s just mind-boggling.
I just read this statement from the Multnoma county sheriff on CBS news. He said after following up on 3,000+ leads, he’s got a lot of decisions to make. I am wondering if they still think he could be alive? I really hope he is, but if this woman would try to have someone kill her husband, it’s hard to tell what she may do. I wonder if they had life insurance on little Kyron?
“I’ve got to make a lot of decisions this week,” says Multnoma County Sheriff Dan Staton. “It’s gonna be based on … what comes out of the investigation between now and the end of this week.”
I’m wondering if the police haven’t done anything publically because they feel he is being held by someone who has instructions from Terry to kill Kyron if she is arrested!
Koin 6 just posted @ 12;17PM DST
A letter filed by Moulton Horman’s attorney with Judge Keith Meisenheimer states that there is no need for the scheduled hearing on July 22 because Terri won’t contest what has been filed.
http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/Terri-Horman-called-911-during-police-sting/Dz4uMChK60KCWjy3W5FG4Q.cspx
Kaine seeks hearing to have Terri out of their house
A hearing for the matter was originally set for July 22, but sources tell KOIN the hearing may be moved up to as soon as Thursday afternoon.
http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/news/topstories/story/Terri-wants-money-to-move-out-Kyron-Horman/Dz4uMChK60KCWjy3W5FG4Q.cspx
This is the first reference I find about TH & RS affair. If anyone can point me in the right direction to find where this became fact?
1. Titch says:
July 4, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Snipped “Then again, maybe I’m wrong. Wow! Something else, the police sought him & interviewed him. I’d like to know if he went to them first via a 911 call, call to tip line after Kyron’s story broke, or did he walk right into the popo? OR did the police seek him out? If it’s the latter with le seeking him out, then they had to have basis to do so. What would be their basis? Could she have had an affair with him?” snipped