Kyron Horman Update: Special Task Force to Take Over Investigation

PORTLAND, Ore. (CBS/KOIN) Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Staton announced Wednesday that a special task force will take over the ongoing investigation of missing Oregon boy Kyron Horman. 

PICTURES: Kyron Horman Missing

The 7-year-old disappeared more than three months ago after attending a science fair at Skyline Elementary School in northwest Portland.

During the nearly 35-minute press conference, Staton said the investigation has reached a "critical phase," according to CBS affiliate KOIN. 

"It's time to scale this down," said Staton. "We've reached the point - the info we've gathered, resources we've dedicated - we've narrowed it down to a scope."

Staton said eight to 10 investigators will now be assigned to the Kyron task force, a significant decrease from the 30 investigators who were involved with the case on a weekly basis, reports KOIN.

Authorities committed everything they had into the investigation process that began June 4, however, Staton said it is no longer cost-effective or responsible to maintain such a level, and that the time has come for him to release investigators back to their normal tasks.

The sheriff's office has invested $1,044,000 thus far in the Kyron Horman investigation, according to Staton.

The decision to implement a task force and reallocate resources came after briefings with investigators and the district attorney's office, he said.

"I'm very confident and feel very comfortable continuing the investigation in the manner we outlined," said Staton. "[The investigation] shouldn't fall of the radar screen at all."

Police have yet to identify a suspect in the second-grader's disappearance, but appear to have focused much of their attention on the boy's step-mother, Terri Horman. After Kyron went missing, the boy's father, Kaine Horman, divorced Terri. He and Kyron's biological mother have both stated that they believe Terri was involved in his disappearance.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Tip Line at 503-261-2847.

Complete Coverage of Kyron Horman on Crimesider.