Oregon Boy Missing 11 Days, Case Now Classified as Criminal Investigation

Yesterday a Multnomah County Sheriff fought back tears as he announced that the search for a 7-year-old Portland, Oregon boy has become a criminal investigation. Authorities haven't been able to come up with any clues in the 11 days that Kyron Horman has been missing. In the state's largest search-and-rescue mission to date, over 1,500 volunteers came together from across the state and from southern Washington and northern California, KOIN reported. Sadly, many of those teams were sent home Sunday. A more limited search team from Multnomah County is set to canvass the Elementary School again this week.

Prior to Sunday, Kyron Horman had been considered a "missing endangered child," due to there being no evidence of criminal activity. The term includes a child that may be lost and in danger. Police said Monday that the missing 7-year-old likely didn't simply walk away from school.

The sheriff's office has offered a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the boy.

So sad!! What could have happened to him?!! :(

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Kyron Horman is urged to call the tip line:
(503-261-2847)

Sources:
koinlocal6.com. Last day of school at Skyline; Prayer vigil for Kyron Horman Tuesday night. June 15th, 2010.
CBS News. Kyron Horman's Disappearance Now a Criminal Case. June 14th, 2010.

Huge Break in Haleigh Cummings Case; Police Now Searching River

Huge developments have unfolded tonight in the case of missing 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings. Investigators have begun searching a Florida river just two miles from the home where Haleigh vanished more than a year ago. The search is expected to last through the night. In another big break, sources tell CNN affiliate WFTV a suspect is in custody in the investigation, which is now reportedly a homicide case.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Office said they were acting on a tip when they started their search of the St. John's river, although they would not elaborate further than that. During HLN's news programs earlier tonight, footage of the search in progress showed various things being pulled from the water, including a large blue cooler. In a sign that police believe this tip is going to lead to something significant in the case, the entire Cummings family was reportedly summoned to the Sheriff's office earlier today. Specific details of the meeting were not revealed to the public, but according to a witness from Jane Velez-Mitchell's show 'Issues', the biological mother of Haleigh was seen leaving the building weeping, saying a certain person had killed her baby. [HLN]

:-( Perhaps this case will finally be solved.... there needs be closure for Haleigh's family, and justice for this little girl.

Sources:
HLN Network. Jane Velez Mitchell, "Issues". April 13th, 2010.
Nancy Grace. April 13th, 2010.

Two Bodies Found, One Suspected to be that of Missing 7-Year-Old Aja Johnson

Oklahoma police believe they have found the bodies of missing 7-year-old Aja Johnson and her stepfather Lester Hobbs, CBS News reported. The discovery was made on Monday when an anonymous 911 call led police to an abandoned vehicle in the woods, about 20 miles south of Oklahoma City. Family fears grew after Aja's mother, Tonya Hobbs, was found dead Jan. 24 inside Lester Hobbs' motor home in Geronimo. Pictures of the 7-year-old and her alleged abductor, along with his vehicle, were shown on news programs as part of an Amber Alert. Police were also offering a $20,000 reward as of February 1st, when the girl had been missing for 7 days.

According to CBS News, the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's office believes papers found inside Hobbs’ car are likely to be a suicide note. A cause of death has not been determined for either individual.

Even though the Amber Alert system has proven to work in recent years, it looks like the court system actually failed to stop this very violent person from being around a child. The Dallas News reported that Aja Johnson's mother and father each went to court to prevent Lester Hobbs from seeing the 7-year-old girl, his stepdaughter, but both attempts failed. The article goes on to say that Tonya Hobbs went as far as telling the court in August that she feared that her estranged husband would crush the girl’s skull with a hammer?! This is especially bothersome since Tonya Hobbs was found bludgeoned to death.

Unfortunately, it looks like the girl's mother is the one who ultimately allowed her to be in harm’s way. On the weekend that she was murdered, Tonya Hobbs told Aja’s father, J.J. Johnson, that she was taking the little girl to a birthday party. She ended up taking her to visit Lester Hobbs, and tragedy ensued.

Sources:
Crimesider. Aja Johnson Update: Grim Discovery of Two Bodies in Okla. Confirms Family's Worst Fears. March 30th, 2010.
The Dallas Morning News. Bodies found in Oklahoma may be those of man, stepdaughter. March 31st, 2010.