Cops: We Think Kyron Horman Is Alive

Authorities say they believe a missing 7-year-old Oregon boy is still alive, and said the search for him is progressing faster than most searches of its kind.

Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Staton said Friday the investigation has been "scaled down" since it began on June 4, but 20 investigators are still working to find Kyron Horman.

"We have no evidence that indicates anything other than the fact that Kyron is still alive and we are going to continue the investigation under that premise," Staton said.

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He added, "We have 2,877 leads or tips that are valid that we are using in the course of this investigation."

In a briefing for reporters, Staton also disputed the notion that Kyron's stepmother, Terri Moulton Horman, has been uncooperative with investigators.

On Thursday, Kyron's biological mother, Desiree Young, pleaded with her to cooperate with the investigators.

"We implore (stepmother) Terri Horman to fully cooperate with the investigators to bring Kyron home," Young said at a news conference at which Terri Horman wasn't present.

Staton said he believes Terri Horman is working with investigators.

"To date, there has been no indication that she has been uncooperative," Staton said. "She has been cooperative throughout this entire process."

Terri Horman is the last person known to have seen the second-grader before he vanished June 4. Investigators haven't named her as a suspect or a person of interest in his disappearance but, points out CBS News Correspondent John Blackstone, "All the attention (in the probe) has been focused on the former school teacher." Police have given her two lie detector tests..

Kyron's biological father, Kaine Horman, filed for divorce from Terri Horman on Monday, citing "irreconcilable differences," and a judge granted his request barring Terri Horman from contact with her children and access to firearms. The reason for the restraining order wasn't revealed.

Kaine Hormon also moved out Monday and took the couple's 19-month-old child with him.

Staton said the search has cost Multnomah County about $300,000. He declined to go into detail about the investigation, but reiterated statements from his office that Kyron's disappearance is an isolated incident.

"If I believed or our detectives or district attorney's office believed that (the incident weren't isolated), I would be the first one screaming at the top of our lungs," Staton said. "To date, I don't believe that threat does exist."

Kyron disappeared after a science fair at Skyline Elementary School, which didn't have an automatic notification system at the time. Terri Horman, who has raised Kyron since he was an infant, contacted the school when the boy didn't come home on his school bus on June 4. The sheriff's office declared the case a criminal investigation on June 14.

Terri Horman has hired prominent Portland defense attorney Stephen Houze. Staton said that her hiring of a lawyer puts a layer between her and investigators.

"What that does is, I cannot just come up now and directly talk to you," Staton said. "You have hired somebody that directly represents your interests. It's no longer just you and I in the course of a conversation."