Kyron Horman Update: Probable Cause to Arrest Stepmom Right Now?
PORTLAND, Ore. (CBS/KOIN) Detectives say there is probable cause to arrest Kyron Horman's stepmother for the murder-for-hire plot of her husband, Kaine Horman, and possibly for the 7-year-old's disappearance, according to a former sheriff's official.
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"The detectives are telling them they have probable cause to arrest Terri Horman right now at least for murder for hire and possibly for the disappearance," Bruce McCain, former captain of the Multnomah County Sheriff's office, told CBS affiliate KOIN.
Terri Horman is the last person known to have seen the Portland, Ore. second-grader before he vanished on June 4. Investigators have not named her as a suspect or a person of interest in Kyron's disappearance, but she's clearly been a focus of the probe.
McCain says "probable cause" isn't enough to guarantee a conviction, so it's best for Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schrunk to wait for proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
"Probable cause to make an arrest is a far cry from proof beyond a reasonable doubt," McCain told KOIN. "Mike Schrunk is the one who makes the call when Terri's arrested and for what."
The investigation in recent days has centered around Terri's friends - in particular DeDe Spicher - who, according Kyron's biological parents, is intentionally hindering the investigation.
C.W. Jensen, a retired Portland police captain, told KOIN that Terri Horman's arrest is imminent.
"At some point she's going to get arrested." Portland Police Detective C.W. Jensen told KOIN. "I think investigators want to know what happened to Kyron before they move ahead."
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Kyron Horman is asked to call the Multnomah County Sheriff's tip line at 503-261-2847.