Kyron Horman's Stepmother, Terri Horman, Getting Death Threats, Lawyer Says

July 16, 2010 — -- Kyron Horman's stepmother, who has reportedly received three death threats, has made an out-of-court settlement agreeing to move out of the family's Oregon home by 3 p.m. tomorrow.

In the six weeks since 7-year-old Kyron Horman disappeared from his elementary school science fair, Terri Horman has gone from devoted mother to despicable villain in the eyes of her family, which has accused her of withholding infomation about her last moments with Kyron and allegedly attempting to hire the landscaper to kill her husband.

But Horman's lawyer, Stephen Houze, is now saying that the media frenzy surrounding the case has morphed into a "witch hunt."

ABC Portland affiliate KATU reported that Terri Horman has requested money from Kyron's father, Kaine Horman, to move out of the house they once shared, but her now-estranged husband has refused. Houze said Terri Horman has had a hard time finding a new place to live. He has said he'll ask the judge to give her until Monday to leave.

Kaine Horman moved out of the famiy's home with the couple's 20-month-old daughter after learning of the alleged murder-for-hire plot.

Terri Horman has not been charged or named a person of interest in either Kyron's disappearance or the plot against her husband.

Court documents released earlier this week added to the growing list of odd behavior coming from Terri Horman. Her husband claimed in a filing in which he attempted to have his wife held in contempt for violating the emergency restraining order granted June 28 that she tried to "abduct" her 20-month-old daughter from a gym day care after the emergency restraining order was granted.

And while the rest of the family was consumed by the desperate search for Kyron, Terri Horman was allegedly 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 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.

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.

Kyron Horman's Father Feels Betrayed by Estranged Wife's Actions

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."

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.