Sheriff refocuses Kyron investigation: a smaller task force will take over...

[Calliope]

I think she is trying to face the distinct possibility that her son may not be coming home.

Personally, I think she is somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd stages of grief and that her behavior is quite normal.

I was just getting ready to post this. Pain <--> Anger/bargaining. Clearly.

 

[Calliope]

I'm confused about this task force. It involves police from multiple towns? Is this normal in a missing child case? I always thought that the police from the town the child went missing in were the ones who would search for that child. I know that other jurisdictions can help out but it sounds like they are trying to get them officially involved in the case? Is the Portland LE no longer involved and now it's just a task force?

What I took away from Staton's PC was that involving other departments lessens the burden on his own --- but apparently they are in no shape to do so.

 

[Tink56]

I think she is trying to face the distinct possibility that her son may not be coming home.

Personally, I think she is somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd stages of grief and that her behavior is quite normal.

It's also possible LE has presented that possibility--that Kyron is not coming home alive--and DY is trying to deny that scenario.

A break in this situation must come soon...

 

[passionflower]

"Task FORCE" may have separate funding like FBI, SEX, DRUG force, and just maybe these special task forces are doing the job and getting answers that regular LE might interfere with. Some can go state to state, where LE cannot. JMOO

I do not feel that anyone will forget KYRON.

 

[loves2bmom]

Hi, Thinking about this for hours now I'm wondering if this is a great new strategy at play. I know it's 3:30am in the morning LOLOLOL but couldn't go to sleep thinking about this.

Do you think LE believes in taking the pressure off the guilty party/ies they will relax and maybe start talking, or driving to the same place or spot a bit too often or something on that order? I hope this is it now and LE is a watching and a waiting for a slip-up.

It sounds too elemental, having a strategy tied to a sad story of problems in getting the investigation under way again with a new Task Force. Actually I think it is ingenius if it is the case. LE can lie about anything to further the investigation. I bet the TF is actually very busy and 'at it', working on the case.
I must say I don't buy the dichotomy of the MCSO giving money back they didn't need for the investigation and then pulling 2 police depts into the TF that have to decline as they have no $$$'s. That just doesn't add up to me.

xox and IMO

While I don't think they're trying some new strategy , they are definitely still working the case. :thumb:

 

[GrainneDhu]

"Gov. Ted Kulongoski advised legislative leaders, school superintendents and agency directors that state economists expect tax collections to be down significantly more than the $577 million shortfall projected in May. ... Now state economists believe revenues will shrivel by an additional $200 million to $500 million, prompting Kulongoski to send a flurry of letters and notices warning of more cuts to schools and state services." <snipped> BBMhttp://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/08/with_projected_revenues_droppi.html

Although much of their monies come from the taxpayers in their regions, a lot also comes from the state. My son's student loans this term went from $3100 to $1200. The resources are dwindling and the different agencies HAVE to look at what they have budgeted and what they might lose in next year's budget. I'm very involved in government in our state and I'm not just blowing smoke.

There is a study from Johns Hopkins that shows that a hospitalised child without health insurance is 60% more likely to die than a hospitalised child who does have health insurance.

The same study estimated that 1000 children die every year in the USA due to lack of health insurance.

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes....sq=johns hopkins uninsured child study&st=cse

To the parents of those 1000 children, it probably seems pretty obscene that over $1 million dollars in tax money has been devoted to one single child. If uninsured children are distributed evenly throughout the 50 states, then Oregon lost 20 children to lack of health insurance last year.

That same $1 million dollars would easily have bought health insurance for more than just 20 children. Figuring $4000/child, that would be 250 more children insured.

Kyron's plight, the anguish of KH and DY, etc, are heartrending. But so is the plight of the many children in Oregon who need more help and are not getting it, it's just that their plight is much less visible to the average person.

I wish it were not a zero sum game but that's the way we have chosen to set up our civilisation.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Once a missing person has been gone for three or four months, what is there to do? People talk about searching, but unless the person or a body is found in the first few days, usually it becomes a matter of waiting for a break.

For example, Chelsea King's body was found quickly. That led to an arrest and the subsequent finding of another young girl, Amber DuBois, whose body was found far from the point of abduction. Although her parents believed that she was taken to that area by car because of a search conducted by dogs, her body was not found until the suspect was identified.

My point is that people who abduct and kill are almost always one or two steps ahead of the families and LE because they know what they did and where and how they did it. At some point, the dedication of massive resources doesn't make any sense, because a missing person who has been murdered or taken from the area and hidden could be anywhere. LE in this case clearly concluded that the stepmother is responsible for Kyron's disappearance, based in part on what we know but no doubt on evidence turned up in their investigation that we are not aware of. If LE is right, it won't take a giant, multi-jurisdictional task force to get justice; it will more likely be the efforts of the prosecutor, who will make a case, bring charges, and perhaps force a plea deal. Someone who knows may feel pressure to talk--or perhaps already has under the secrecy of the Grand Jury.

Another possibility is that the body will be discovered by some ordinary person going about his or her business (hiking, hunting, etc.) and that will provide both forensic evidence and a location that may suggest or eliminate suspects. If Kyron was murdered, he may well be in a place that has already been searched, only too well hidden to be found.

The other possibility is that LE got on the wrong track from the beginning, following TH, who certainly looks like a good suspect. That can happen, even given the best of efforts by LE. If the investigation narrowed too soon, it will take the discovery of the body or some other break we can't foresee to find out what happened to Kyron.

The only reason I can see for a task force is if Kyron's disappearance is part of a criminal conspiracy that covers multiple jurisdictions. If a tip comes in that Kyron, whether or not he is still alive, can be found (let's say) in California, of course LE in that jurisdiction would help until the tip was resolved. So why would there be a need for a task force? My larger point is that "searching" is not the same as "investigating," and at some point, it makes sense for the case to be investigated like any other crime, because once a person has been "missing" for months--what else can anyone do?

 

[debs]

Okay, am I missing something? Wouldn't the sheriff have asked these agencies for their help before announcing they'd be asking these agencies for help? Did he miss a step???

 

[loves2bmom]

Okay, am I missing something? Wouldn't the sheriff have asked these agencies for their help before announcing they'd be asking these agencies for help? Did he miss a step???

Sheriff Staton himself said he was forced to talk about the Task Force before he was ready due to his "slip" in the Portland Business Alliance meeting. Some think he did that intentionally...I think it was purely a slip.

 

[debs]

Sheriff Staton himself said he was forced to talk about the Task Force before he was ready due to his "slip" in the Portland Business Alliance meeting. Some think he did that intentionally...I think it was purely a slip.

Then this slip is incredibly heartless to the people who love Kyron, to have to now see publicly that agencies don't have the manpower to dedicate to search for Kyron. All around, a FAIL.

 

[loves2bmom]

Then this slip is incredibly heartless to the people who love Kyron, to have to now see publicly that agencies don't have the manpower to dedicate to search for Kyron. All around, a FAIL.

I'm sure he wishes he'd not said it before he was ready and I'm also certain the intent was not to be heartless.

 

[debs]

When the formed task force is complete, will we know what agencies will be involved?

 

[sorrell skye]

Okay, am I missing something? Wouldn't the sheriff have asked these agencies for their help before announcing they'd be asking these agencies for help? Did he miss a step???

I agree Debs. I just posted a comment about that over on the DY presser thread.

IMO, I think that when Staton announced the task force during the Business Alliance breakfast on Sept. 15, he realized he had slipped up and that may be, IMO, one of the reasons he called for the media PC shortly afterward - because he had let the cat out of the bag.

I feel it was premature (to say the least) for him to announce the task force before he had received the commitments of the other agencies. IMO, it shows a lack of experience on his part.

My worry is what will happen to the task force if the MCSO is unable to get the assistance they need. So far, I've only read that the Portland PD have committed an officer.

 

[Billylee]

&#8220;I think we're all grateful that (Portland Police Chief Michael) Reese has stepped up and offered help. The real tragedy is that the sheriff's office waited four months to ask Portland for assistance,&#8221; McCain said.

http://www.kptv.com/news/25243879/detail.html


Two things, what do you think he met by this? and is it normal procedure Not to involve the Portland P.D.?

 

[loves2bmom]

&#8220;I think we're all grateful that (Portland Police Chief Michael) Reese has stepped up and offered help. The real tragedy is that the sheriff's office waited four months to ask Portland for assistance,&#8221; McCain said.

http://www.kptv.com/news/25243879/detail.html


Two things, what do you think he met by this? and is it normal procedure Not to involve the Portland P.D.?

I posted this in another thread but this quote from McCain is absolutely ridiculous. They did not wait four months to ask Portland PD for help. They've been helping all along. They asked for one dedicated officer for the task force. One that is most likely already on the case. McCain is annoying.

ETA: Just wanted to add..YOU are not annoying Billy I can't stand the stuff McCain has said thus far. He knows nothing!!!

Link to article on June 5th where they asked for help from Portland Police Bureau from the very start.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/Media/kyron-horman-missing-disappeared-elementary-school/story?id=10836677

 

[Calliope]

Do we have a list of agencies that have been approached to assist, and which ones have refused? TIA

 

[Jo in Calif]

“I think we're all grateful that (Portland Police Chief Michael) Reese has stepped up and offered help. The real tragedy is that the sheriff's office waited four months to ask Portland for assistance,” McCain said.

http://www.kptv.com/news/25243879/detail.html


Two things, what do you think he met by this? and is it normal procedure Not to involve the Portland P.D.?

“I think we're all grateful that (Portland Police Chief Michael) Reese has stepped up and offered help. The real tragedy is that the sheriff's office waited four months to ask Portland for assistance,” McCain said.
IMO the real tragedy here is they don't put a muzzle on McCain.
IMO the case has gotten to a point that they don't need all the Detectives, they had in the beginning, because they have it narrowed down,as to what might have happened.
30% is a lot when it only involves 10 or 12 Detectives, we haven't heard if they have one from the FBI yet, if so, they have 50% of the task force already, 3 of their own, 1 FBI, (we don't know this yet) and 1 from Portland.

 

[loves2bmom]

Do we have a list of agencies that have been approached to assist, and which ones have refused? TIA

This is what I had gathered from the press conference and subsequent follow up articles of who they had hoped could remain on the case:

8-10 people=

2-3 dedicated from MCSO
FBI
Troutdale/Fairview (is that one or two different people?)
Port of Portland
Portland Police
Gresham Police

http://www.examiner.com/crime-in-nat...-boy-see-video

Only Gresham has said they WISH they could remain but do not have the financial budget to do so. Beaverton Police was also quoted as saying they don't plan to have someone on the task force but I don't think they were asked either.

 

[loves2bmom]

“I think we're all grateful that (Portland Police Chief Michael) Reese has stepped up and offered help. The real tragedy is that the sheriff's office waited four months to ask Portland for assistance,” McCain said.
IMO the real tragedy here is they don't put a muzzle on McCain.
IMO the case has gotten to a point that they don't need all the Detectives, they had in the beginning, because they have it narrowed down,as to what might have happened.
30% is a lot when it only involves 10 or 12 Detectives, we haven't heard if they have one from the FBI yet, if so, they have 50% of the task force already, 3 of their own, 1 FBI, (we don't know this yet) and 1 from Portland.

LOL Jo...we think alike and were posting at the same time!

 

[sorrell skye]

I posted this in another thread but this quote from McCain is absolutely ridiculous. They did not wait four months to ask Portland PD for help. They've been helping all along. They asked for one dedicated officer for the task force. One that is most likely already on the case. McCain is annoying.

ETA: Just wanted to add..YOU are not annoying Billy I can't stand the stuff McCain has said thus far. He knows nothing!!!

Link to article on June 5th where they asked for help from Portland Police Bureau from the very start.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/Media/kyron-horman-missing-disappeared-elementary-school/story?id=10836677

Yes, Portland PD has been one of the agencies that has assisted from early on, so as usual, McCain is spouting off inaccuracies as he tries to make himself look & sound like the expert. I really wish he'd stop, but he's more or less like all the talking heads that weigh in ad nauseum on this case. They all (the talking heads) need to do some fact-checking before opening their mouths.

IMO, many of McCain's statements are politically motivated.