Missing Ore. boy's father rejects divorce delay
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A request by Kyron Horman's stepmother to delay divorce proceedings would jeopardize his father's custody rights, the father said in a court filing.
Kaine Horman argued in a filing last week that Terri Horman's request to allow the divorce but leave all other matters like custody aside would leave Kaine and Terri Horman "financially enmeshed" and Kaine unable to make decisions with his money that he would otherwise make as a single person.
If the case is delayed, Kaine "would be officially 'divorced,' but the welfare of his children would be jeopardized and the balance of his legal rights as a party to the marriage would remain unresolved," his attorney wrote in the filing. "(Terri's motion) places her own convenience and needs over the children's welfare and safety."
He also said in filings that Terri Horman only wants to delay the proceedings because she fears incriminating herself in Kyron's disappearance.
Kyron Horman has been missing since a science fair at his elementary school on June 4. Terri Horman is the last person known to have seen Kyron. She is not a suspect in his disappearance.
Kaine Horman filed for divorce June 28 and also filed a restraining order against Terri Horman after investigators told him she conspired to have him killed.
Kyron is Kaine Horman's son from a previous marriage, and the couple has a daughter together.
"Although not directly asserted by (Terri Horman), it is understood that her primary basis for stalling the dissolution proceeding is to avoid possible self-incrimination as to the ongoing law enforcement investigation into the disappearance of her son," wrote Kaine Horman's attorney, Laura Rackner.
Kaine Horman said in a filing that his wife paid Portland lawyer Stephen Houze $350,000. He sought to discover the source of the money and to know whether it could be considered a "joint asset" that he could use to pay his own legal fees.
To prove the amount, Rackner attached a series of text messages, allegedly between Terri Horman and family friend Michael Cook on June 30, in which she allegedly told Cook she paid Houze $350,000.
"Guess how much he costs?" Horman allegedly wrote to Cook.
"Zillions?" Cook wrote back.
"350 K," Terri Horman replied.
Terri Horman's attorney, Peter Bunch, disputed that number and said the amount in question was "grossly misstated" by Rackner. He said Kaine Horman is using the divorce proceedings for his own benefit, rather than to get the situation resolved quickly.
Bunch said Terri Horman would agree to a simple dissolution of the marriage but wants to delay action on "ancillary issues" like custody of the couple's child.
"Virtually any action associated with (Terri Horman) is subject to media scrutiny," Bunch wrote. "I am concerned that any ordinary requests for discovery by me, or my using other normal family law procedures, will be adversely impacted by the continuing scrutiny and speculation surrounding my client."
Kaine Horman says there's no guarantee that the case will be resolved quickly, and it could continue on for years. He also rejected the assertion, made in the filings, that the media scrutiny would affect Terri Horman's ability to participate in custody evaluations or defend herself in a civil proceeding.
Kaine Horman argued in a filing last week that Terri Horman's request to allow the divorce but leave all other matters like custody aside would leave Kaine and Terri Horman "financially enmeshed" and Kaine unable to make decisions with his money that he would otherwise make as a single person.
If the case is delayed, Kaine "would be officially 'divorced,' but the welfare of his children would be jeopardized and the balance of his legal rights as a party to the marriage would remain unresolved," his attorney wrote in the filing. "(Terri's motion) places her own convenience and needs over the children's welfare and safety."
He also said in filings that Terri Horman only wants to delay the proceedings because she fears incriminating herself in Kyron's disappearance.
Kyron Horman has been missing since a science fair at his elementary school on June 4. Terri Horman is the last person known to have seen Kyron. She is not a suspect in his disappearance.
Kaine Horman filed for divorce June 28 and also filed a restraining order against Terri Horman after investigators told him she conspired to have him killed.
Kyron is Kaine Horman's son from a previous marriage, and the couple has a daughter together.
"Although not directly asserted by (Terri Horman), it is understood that her primary basis for stalling the dissolution proceeding is to avoid possible self-incrimination as to the ongoing law enforcement investigation into the disappearance of her son," wrote Kaine Horman's attorney, Laura Rackner.
Kaine Horman said in a filing that his wife paid Portland lawyer Stephen Houze $350,000. He sought to discover the source of the money and to know whether it could be considered a "joint asset" that he could use to pay his own legal fees.
To prove the amount, Rackner attached a series of text messages, allegedly between Terri Horman and family friend Michael Cook on June 30, in which she allegedly told Cook she paid Houze $350,000.
"Guess how much he costs?" Horman allegedly wrote to Cook.
"Zillions?" Cook wrote back.
"350 K," Terri Horman replied.
Terri Horman's attorney, Peter Bunch, disputed that number and said the amount in question was "grossly misstated" by Rackner. He said Kaine Horman is using the divorce proceedings for his own benefit, rather than to get the situation resolved quickly.
Bunch said Terri Horman would agree to a simple dissolution of the marriage but wants to delay action on "ancillary issues" like custody of the couple's child.
"Virtually any action associated with (Terri Horman) is subject to media scrutiny," Bunch wrote. "I am concerned that any ordinary requests for discovery by me, or my using other normal family law procedures, will be adversely impacted by the continuing scrutiny and speculation surrounding my client."
Kaine Horman says there's no guarantee that the case will be resolved quickly, and it could continue on for years. He also rejected the assertion, made in the filings, that the media scrutiny would affect Terri Horman's ability to participate in custody evaluations or defend herself in a civil proceeding.
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