Kyron's Parents Celebrate Missing Boy's Birthday

(Sept. 9) -- The parents of Kyron Horman have had a lot to deal with in the past week. They watched the three-month anniversary of their son's mysterious disappearance come and go and were painfully aware of his absence in the classroom on the first day of school. Each of those events are difficult milestones in their own right, but perhaps not as painful as the one they are enduring today: the missing Oregon boy's eighth birthday.

"Regardless of where he is, I'm going to celebrate the fact that we brought him into this world," Kyron's father, Kaine Horman, told The Oregonian. "It will be hard [with] him not being there, but we're going to do something that he loves to do."
Kyron's birthday will be marked by two observances.

This evening, friends and family will gather at the West Main Church in Medford, where guests will cut his birthday cake and release red balloons. A second party will take place Sunday, at the Family Fun Center & Bullwinkle's Restaurant in Wilsonville. There, participants can partake in Lazer Tag games, miniature golf and bumper boats. Representatives from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office will also be on hand, providing DNA kits and free digital fingerprinting for children.

"I want [Kyron] to know that he's loved," Kyron's mom, Desiree Young, told The Oregonian. "I want him to feel that we care. And that we're going to find him. I'm hoping we have a good turnout to show Kyron that everyone's caring for him."

Kyron's stepmother, Terri Moulton Horman, has said she last saw Kyron walking to his classroom at Skyline Elementary School in Portland on June 4. When the boy failed to return home later that day, his family called the school and discovered Kyron was missing. Multiple searches have been conducted, but to date, authorities have found no sign of Kyron.

In the weeks following Kyron's disappearance, Kaine Horman obtained a restraining order against Terri, after learning she was allegedly involved in a murder-for-hire plot. He also filed filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Although she has not been named as a suspect or person of interest in the case, Terri Horman has hired prominent criminal defense lawyer Stephen Houze.

A grand jury convened in July to hear testimony in the case and is continuing to do so this month. The district attorney's office has not returned calls from AOL News, and it is unclear how long the proceedings will continue.

Earlier this week, Skyline Elementary opened its doors for the first day of school. Kyron was noticeably absent, but his desk is ready and waiting for his return, People magazine reported.

"He's enrolled as a student. There's a spot there waiting for him," Matt Shelby, a spokesman for the Portland School District, told the magazine. "The school is ready for Kyron, and we all hope he shows up."

And if he does show up, he'll be prepared. Kaine Horman has already picked up all the necessary supplies for his son.

"They're all in his backpack in his room, ready to go. ... Everything is ready for him," Horman told People.

In addition to preparing a desk for Kyron, officials at Skyline Elementary have instituted additional security measures to protect the children and staff. Sign-in procedures for visitors are now strictly enforced, and entry into the school is permitted only through the main entrance. An automated phone system has been installed so parents can be made aware when a child is absent from school, and a video surveillance system has been installed throughout the entire campus.

Meanwhile, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has issued a new press release about the search for Kyron, which is now in its 14th week.

"Investigators and search-and-rescue personnel continue to follow up on information received from the community," the release reads. "Due to this being a continuing criminal investigation, the specifics of the search and exact areas searched cannot be detailed. The investigation continues, and search-and-rescue teams will be utilized as they are needed."

The sheriff's office also said the tip line averages about five tips an hour.

For more information on Kyron's birthday celebrations or to find out how to submit a tip to law enforcement, visit: www.bringkyronhome.org, a website designed and managed by volunteers for the Horman family.