Kyron Horman's Stepmother Accused of Attempted Abduction of Daughter
Kaine Horman has filed court docs alleging affair, restraining-order violation.
PORTLAND, Ore., July 13, 2010 -- The Oregon stepmother embroiled in an increasingly nasty battle with her missing stepson's family allegedly attempted to "abduct" her own daughter all while carrying on an affair with her estranged husband's high school classmate, according to new court documents.
Terri Horman could face charges for violating an emergency restraining order that keeps her away from her husband, Kaine Horman, and the couple's 20-month-daughter.
According to court documents filed Monday by Kaine Horman in an attempt to have his wife held in contempt for violating the restraining order, Terri Horman tried to "abduct" her 20-month-old daughter from a gym day care June 28, two days after the emergency restraining order was granted, following a revelation from police that she tried to hire the family's landscaper to kill her husband.
And while the rest of the family was consumed by the desperate search for 7-year-old Kyron Horman, Terri Horman was carrying on an affair with a 37-year-old Michael Cook, a former classmate of Kaine Horman's, according to the documents. The affair purportedly began four days after Kaine Horman moved out and investigators, according to the court papers, said they've "obtained hundreds of text messages, as well as several photographs of respondent [Terri], in various stages of undress and graphic sexual activity."
The court documents accused Terri Horman of sharing sensitive information with her new boyfriend about the police investigation into Kyron's disappearance.
The new allegations came hours after Terri Horman's attorney, Stephen Houze, sent a letter to the judge stating that she would not contest the restraining order that would keep her away from her daughter, or her husband's request to move out of the family's Portland home.
Cook told a local television station that he was planning to hire an attorney, but while there was "inappropriate communication" with Terri Horman, he never had sex with her.
Terri Horman was the last person known to see Kyron before he vanished June 4 from his elementary school science fair. She has not been charged or even named a person of interest in the boy's disappearance or in the alleged murder-for-hire plot against her husband.
Kaine Horman and Kyron's biological mother, Desiree Young, have said they had little doubt that Terri Horman is somehow involved with their son's disappearance. Young has pleaded with Terri Horman to "do the right thing."
Terri Horman and her attorney have declined to comment on the allegations made by Kyron's parents.
Former FBI Special Agent Brad Garrett said investigators' decision to release the damaging court documents was one more sign they were trying to force Terri Horman into cooperating with their efforts to find Kyron.
"What they're trying to do is continue trying to tighten the vice," Garrett said. "When you become more desperate you tend to make more mistakes."
The affair with Cook, Garrett said, has the potential to provide new leads in the boy's disappearance.
"The key, I think, in this case is a new strain of information possibly through Mr. Cook," he said, "or things Mr. Cook could bring into the case."
Kyron Horman's Father Feels Betrayed by Estranged Wife's Actions
Kaine Horman, told "Good Morning America" last week that Terri Horman seemed to change after the birth of their 19-month-old daughter, Kiara.
"She went through some post-partum depression after the birth and her emotional state was more erratic," Horman said.
He has since filed for divorce.
Though Kaine Horman, Desiree Young and Young's husband initially presented a united front with Terri Horman in the days after Kyron vanished last month, the family has now turned on Kryon's stepmother.
"I believe respondent is involved in the disappearance of my son Kyron who has been missing since June 4, 2010," Kaine Horman wrote in his application for the restraining order.
He added, "I also recently learned that respondent attempted to hire someone to murder me. The police have provided me with probable cause to believe the above two statements are true."
Young said she didn't believe Terri Horman from the beginning when she called to tell her that Kyron went missing from his elementary school.
"There was just certain details that just didn't make any sense that gave me that sick to my stomach feeling," Young said.
At a recent press conference, she implored Terri to tell the family where he is.
"Unfortunately I am kind of at that point where I am so angry I just don't even have words," she said. "I just really want her to do the right thing ... Kyron is still out there and he needs to be home."
Kaine Horman said he feels betrayed.
"I think we all do," Young added.
Young said she would hope Terri Horman would decide to give in and start talking.
"I would like to think not, because my son is involved. But I have the feeling that she will never ever give in," she said.
" I don't think she is going to tell the truth," Kaine Horman said.
"She hasn't told the truth for seven and a half years that I have known her," Young said.