The cost of searching for Kyron

[cluciano63]

Whatever has been spent to date in Haleigh's case, it hasn't brought any results at all, as far as I am concerned. I wonder if it includes the cost of the undercover drug bust. Sure, some of these people are in jail, soon to be in prison, we hope, but nothing at all new about Haleigh or the night of Feb. 9th of last year. And I'm sure Putnam County had lots and lots of interviews, tip, etc. to review too.

 

[Kimster]

Since we are doing comparisons, do we know what Caylee's case cost after the first year? And let's not count after KC went indigent.

 

[Kimster]

Wait, Caylee's case was different in that she was found. I have to run but later on I'll see if there is an article about Lindsey Baum's case that we can compare.

 

[Sherbie]

This quote from this article is one that has stuck in my mind, with good reason:

But detectives still need help from the public, Gates said -- not only in continuing to keep an eye out for anything related to Kyron's disappearance, but also in understanding why officials haven't released many details about the investigation.

"If we released everything that we knew, we'd get all kinds of people that call in with all kinds of theories. What we want is when we get tips to get fresh information. If we get a call with details that haven't gone out, we know that person is a credible witness," Gates said. "That's integral to the case and that's going to help us solve it. When we release tidbits of information to the public, it's definitely in order to help us solve this case.

"Until we solve this case, the public does not have a right to know the details. Once we solve the case, they have every right to."

Bottom line is this: we do not have a right to know what LE has. Period. We can speculate that they "have nothing", that they "aren't any closer to solving this crime than they were on day 1", that "they need to tell us what they have so far before asking for more money", etc. etc., but speculation is just that- speculation. I do agree that they should hold a townhall meeting if, god forbid, Kyron isn't found by the time school starts to reassure parents, but LE does NOT have to name any suspect or POI or give away any details of their investigation if they don't feel it'll help their case in some way. I'm a little amazed, reading posts where people are saying that they have nothing. In just this document alone, they are stating that they have 38 huge binders filled with information as well as about 200 records, some with hundreds of pages per record. Think about this as an example-of course, they've gotten Terri's internet records. Since she was supposedly on her computer a lot, think of the amount of information contained in that record alone and how much time it would take to sift though. People, this is an investigation, it takes time and we have to accept that we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Have a little faith.

Sarah, this deserves repeating. It is counterproductive for LE to release details of an investigation unless doing so would (1) be beneficial in furthering the investigation and/or (2) be in the interests of public safety.

Like you, I believe LE has a lot more than we might imagine. In fact, the quote upthread about the DA requesting additional funds for prosecutors and investigators in this case supports that notion. If LE had "nothing," then the DA would have nothing and, therefore, no need to devote its resources to the case.

Sometimes it's helpful for an investigation to release details or ask the public for help in identifying people, vehicles, etc. But sometimes it can severely jeopardize the investigation itself and/or the prosecution of a case to make details known to the general public.

I know it's frustrating, but this is more often than not how a major case works out -- it takes time to investigate and to build a solid prosecution. Like you said, we need patience. Plenty of time for recriminations, if warranted, after we learn the truth of the investigation. Until then, I feel like it's a little unfair to jump on LE for doing what is likely the right thing to do.

 

[mysticrose]

Sorry , but I find it of interest that LE is publicly stating and keep stating about how much this case is costing them.... Maybe I find it odd :waitasec: I don't recall any case where LE has went into all the costs associated with their investigation, any one care to comment
What is your thoughts ?

Here is another article I found :

http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/loca...-million-in-costs/Wwp9u4Woi0G3r5av7XfsKw.cspx

 

[crystalgenie]

Kyron Horman: Talk Is Cheap As Media Do The Police Work

KYRON Horman: Anorak’s at-a-glance look at the missing Oregon seven-year-old in the news: Ron Tarver, Terri Moulton Horman and poor police rely on the media…

No evidence. No clues. Not proof a crime has taken place. But all eyes remain on Terri Horman, the last person known to have seen Kyron Horman

http://www.anorak.co.uk/254201/medi...s-media-do-the-police-work.html?pid=22443#img

 

[cluciano63]

Sorry , but I find it of interest that LE is publicly stating and keep stating about how much this case is costing them.... Maybe I find it odd :waitasec: I don't recall any case where LE has went into all the costs associated with their investigation, any one care to comment
What is your thoughts ?

Here is another article I found :

http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/loca...-million-in-costs/Wwp9u4Woi0G3r5av7XfsKw.cspx

I am sure the media is questioning them far more than in other cases, as it is so prominent a case and the economy is forcing so many cuts and entire programs elsewhere. The money has to come from somewhere and it is not an endless supply. The local public does have a right to know the amounts being spent and what it is spent on, these are public positions, some are elected positions. I think it is the media more than LE who is getting this info out there, to see what kind of controversy can be stirred up. And I am sure there will be controversy if they are not successful.

 

[Kimster]

Sorry , but I find it of interest that LE is publicly stating and keep stating about how much this case is costing them.... Maybe I find it odd :waitasec: I don't recall any case where LE has went into all the costs associated with their investigation, any one care to comment
What is your thoughts ?

<respectfully snipped>

I would agree with you if I didn't live in Oregon and know the budget issues going on with the state and the local principalities. We are having very hard financial issues here and they've been in the news often. Lane County has been in dire straights for at least 4 years - even before the downturn in the economy. Voters won't pass any tax increases as a rule. It's really been a mess and I would imagine it is in the news a lot because voters want to keep abreast of where their money is going.

 

[cluciano63]

It is the same where I live in NM; the schools are somehow in an unheard-of deficit mess and no one knows what will happen, city workers taking pay cuts, and unpaid furloughs all around the state. Of course a lot has come out about corruption, which has not helped. Even so, finances would be of major concern if this were happening here, by this point. I think many states are in the same position. It is not a matter of anyone not caring about Kyron, but the money has to come from someplace. Usually that means something else is cut.

 

[TxLady2]

Yes, I'm aware they need a warrant and probable cause. I wasn't suggesting they might have subpoenaed records for everyone in Portland.

I was just suggesting some additional people for whom LE might have subpoenaed records, in response to the post I quoted, which noted only the four parents, to account for the 200 subpoenaed records.

I misread then... Sorry!

They could possibly have POI's who we haven't heard about, or they have run across things relating to someone in the school or some of the parents that they feel may need looking deeper into as well.

 

[Haeve]

<snip>

I'm actually kind of surprised it's only 200 or so records. I would have expected something more along the lines of 2000.

Yes, I thought this over and in my experience, 200 documents is nothing. That would only add up to a few bankers' boxes worth.

A ream of unused paper is about 2 inches thick, so there are 250 sheets per inch, 3,000 sheets per foot, and each sheet is 0.004 inches thick.

(source:http://eetd.lbl.gov/paper/ideas/html/copyfactsA.htm)

The files I handle have roughly 50 documents with anywhere from 1 to 200 (rarely) pages, and they fit into a 3 1/2 inch brown file jacket, maybe 5 1/4 inch if the file has generated more activity. There are exceptions. We've sent out subpoenaed records for one case file that added up to 4 bankers' boxes worth. That still doesn't strike me as very much. Files tend to have lots of duplicate/working copies of documents in them too, which can reduce the effective number of documents by 1/4 or more.

But to answer Emma Peel's question--other things not mentioned (I think) that would generate lots of paper: property records (these should be public record but loan files from financial institutions would not be), credit checks (from credit reporting agencies), personnel files, and court records (divorce decrees, etc.--again, public record unless sealed) but by far the most paper is generated by financial records. If anybody has had any bankruptcies or foreclosures, yikes! The final court papers would be public record but the reams of collection activity and such would not be.

I make no claim to know what any of that might have to do with a missing child case or if LE has subpoenaed any of those things. :angel:

 

[TxLady2]

I am sure the media is questioning them far more than in other cases, as it is so prominent a case and the economy is forcing so many cuts and entire programs elsewhere. The money has to come from somewhere and it is not an endless supply. The local public does have a right to know the amounts being spent and what it is spent on, these are public positions, some are elected positions. I think it is the media more than LE who is getting this info out there, to see what kind of controversy can be stirred up. And I am sure there will be controversy if they are not successful.

I agree. The public just has no clue how an investigation like this can run into so much money, but it's just a sad reality.
Maybe some of these highly overpaid sports stars and other celebrities should donate a few million to some of these cases.

 

[shorty42404]

Does anyone know when the MCS & DA are going before the board??

 

[Calliope]

Sorry if this has been asked already (brain starting to numb up on me lol), but how common is it for LE to request extra funds for one specific case?

 

[debs]

Does anyone know when the MCS & DA are going before the board??

I believe they're doing that on Wednesday the 22nd.

 

[shorty42404]

Just found it!

"The county chair believes commissioners will approve the request on Thursday."

http://kezi.com/news/local/181990

Thanks Debs! :smile:

 

[cluciano63]

http://www.kgw.com/news/Agencies-re...on-Horman-case-missing-portland-98787209.html

Now they don't need money yet? Is something about to happen? Or just more politics...

 

[DairyGirl]

http://www.kgw.com/news/Agencies-re...on-Horman-case-missing-portland-98787209.html

Now they don't need money yet? Is something about to happen? Or just more politics...

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Multnomah County Sheriff Dan Staton surprised county commissioners Thursday morning by withdrawing an expected request for $242,000 in additional funding to pursue the Kyron Horman investigation. Stayton tabled the request until October, and actually announced the Sheriff's office would return about $900,000 to county coffers from savings in the previous fiscal year.

http://www.kgw.com/news/Agencies-re...on-Horman-case-missing-portland-98787209.html

Could they be using some of this money? I just don't understand the reversal.

 

[harleysnana]

http://www.kgw.com/news/Agencies-re...on-Horman-case-missing-portland-98787209.html

Now they don't need money yet? Is something about to happen? Or just more politics...

Quote from the link:
Schrunk said "we are confident of a good resolution (in the Kyron Horman
case), and legally."

IMO there is only 1 good resolution I can think of!

 

[cluciano63]

I think they would consider a conviction a good resolution too...