Man, kids pulled from pond ID'ed as missing father and children

A man and three children who were pulled late Tuesday from a pond on the city's south side have been identified as the missing father and his children police and family had been searching for earlier this week, the Marion County Coroner's Office confirms.

By: Lucas Gonzalez , James Howell Jr.

INDIANAPOLIS — A man and three children who were pulled late Tuesday from a pond on the city's south side have been identified as the missing father and his children police and family had been searching for earlier this week, the Marion County Coroner's Office confirms.

Police say Kyle Moorman, 27, and his three children — 1-year-old Kyran Holland, 2-year-old Kyannah Holland and 5-year-old Kyle Moorman II — were pronounced dead after responders found them near Bluff Road and Troy Avenue. Family members had previously been searching for them there.

The causes and manners of their deaths are pending, according to the coroner's office.

Responders found the children in a car at the bottom of a pond and Moorman nearby. Divers spent hours searching the water, according to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Chris Bailey.

Family members told WRTV Moorman had gone fishing with the children but never returned. They also said he didn't bring any extra clothes or diapers.

All four were last seen about 11 p.m. July 6 but weren't reported missing to police until Saturday.

Moorman frequently fished in the area where police found him and the kids — but family members weren't sure exactly where he was going the day he took off. They had searched many different areas where Moorman often went fishing.

"Regardless of the circumstances, we know a man and three young kids are dead tonight ... we don't know why and we don't know how," Bailey said at the scene. "I guarantee you, the detectives that are working behind me will do everything they can to provide answers to this family and to the community."

The circumstances of Moorman's and the children's deaths have not been made clear.

"This currently stands as a death investigation," the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said in an update Wednesday afternoon. "Detectives are working to piece together what led up to this incident."

On Wednesday, IMPD provided the following timeline about their investigation into the disappearance of the Moorman family. The following was provided entirely by IMPD.

July 9

9:17 p.m.: Kyle Moorman, Kyle Moorman II, Kyannah Holland and Kyran Holland were reported missing by a family member. That family member advised there had been no contact with Kyle since 07/06/2022 at approximately 11 p.m. That family member advised that Kyle was driving a black 2009 Saab with an unknown paper temporary plate. Kyle told that family member he was going fishing with the children at the Wildwood Farms subdivision.

July 10

9 a.m.: Detectives went to the area of Wildwood Estates in the 7700 Block of Southeastern Avenue to search the retention ponds around the housing area. This was based on the original missing person report. Upon their arrival, detectives checked 12 different retention ponds for any points of entry that could have been made by a vehicle. Due to fencing, residential structures, and large stone landscaping around the ponds, it was determined that a car could not have entered any of the ponds.

A detective, familiar with the area, identified a large retention pond called “Sloan Ditch” located at Hunter Road as a possible search location. At 11 a.m. detectives entered a dirt path behind the Bible Church of Indiana. Detectives observed that the path had recent vehicle traffic with tire tracks in the mud and disturbed brush. Along the drive path, a blue open-face fishing pole was located. Photos were taken of the fishing pole and marked with a GPS map marker. Detectives walked the entire area of the body of water and noticed that there were fresh tracks into the water on a makeshift boat ramp. The officers concluded their search at approximately 12:30 p.m. taking the fishing pole back to the missing persons office.

12:40 p.m.: Detectives contacted Kyle’s family. The family advised Kyle had custody of all 3 children and reported Kyle had no mental illness, no drug abuse, and had made no threats of suicide or threats to harm the children.

1 p.m.: Detectives checked jail records for Kyle Moorman and the Department of Child Services for the possible location of the children.

6:45 p.m.: Posters of Kyle Moorman, Kyle Moorman II, Kyannah Holland and Kyran Holland were made and sent out department-wide.

6:55 p.m.: Posters and photos were sent to the public information office to release to the media. Information was also released on social media and to local media.

7:07 p.m.: Detectives contacted the last known person to speak with Kyle Moorman on phone and that individual advised nothing seemed out of place. The person said the children were asleep in car and Kyle advised his phone was going to lose battery power. Last known contact 07/07/2022 at 12:24 a.m.

8:43 p.m.: A search warrant was prepared and granted for Kyle Moorman’s phone records. A search warrant was also sent to his phone carrier.

9 p.m.: Detectives attempt to locate the missing vehicle plate number in the License Plate Reader (LPR) system. The plate could not be located or entered due to the vehicle being recently purchased. Detectives reviewed over 2,500 images in an attempt to locate the vehicle driven by Kyle.

July 11

9:40 a.m.: A request is sent to Kyle’s cellular carrier for phone ping and historical data for his cell phone.

10:07 a.m.: Anonymous tip. Black Saab station wagon with loud exhaust eastbound 79^th Street east of Fall Creek. Detectives followed up to this sighting, but the tip was unfounded.

10:21 a.m.: Phone pings begin on Kyle’s cell phone. Cell pings indicated power was off to the device.

10:28 a.m.: Anonymous tip. An individual made statements she was going to kill Kyle and the children. Detectives followed up on this sighting, but the tip was unfounded.

11:18 a.m.: Anonymous tip. A car parked at Indy Surplus Liquidators asking for a welfare check. Detectives followed up on this sighting, but the tip was unfounded.

11:19 a.m.: Anonymous tip. Individual saw a possible matching vehicle Friday at 6:15 p.m. in Indianapolis. Detectives followed up on this sighting, but the tip was unfounded.

1 p.m.: Boone County Sheriff’s Department was called to the Cracker Barrel located in Zionsville. A cooperating individual believed that Kyle Moorman and his children were on the restaurant’s surveillance video. Detectives determined it was not the missing family, but photos and videos were collected.

2:55 p.m.: Tip: The caller advised they saw a black Saab tinted windows and a tall white male with no facial hair in a gas station parking lot at Marion University. Detectives followed up on this sighting, but the tip was unfounded.

3 p.m.: Tip: The caller stated they saw a male that appeared to be Kyle Moorman with three children and a woman at Shoe Carnival on July 10. Shoe Carnival confirmed they did have video, but the tip was unfounded.

3 p.m.: Tip: A box of diapers and children's shoes are found in the driveway in the 2300 block of Kessler Blvd. North Dr. Photos were collected, but the tip was unfounded.

4:48 p.m.: Anonymous Tip. The individual stated saw Kyle Moorman at Lickity Split in Brookston, IN on July 10. No children were observed. Detectives followed up on this sighting, but the tip was unfounded.

6:33 p.m.: Anonymous tip. The tipster stated saw Kyle Moorman at Marathon Gas Station located on Morris Street in Indianapolis. Detectives followed up on this sighting, but the tip was unfounded.

7 p.m.: Moorman's family searched the pond located on Bluff Road. The family believes this was the last location of Kyle Moorman and his children due to finding the password for Kyle Moorman’s email account. Southwest District had at least six cars on the scene. Officers walked the bank line and saw no signs of a vehicle in the water. A bottle and clothing were collected as possible evidence; however, the location is littered with garbage and other debris. Family members could not confirm or agree that the items were from the Moorman family.

8:26 p.m.: Detectives sent Kyle Moorman’s cell phone historical data from the cellular phone carrier to the FBI for analysis. FBI assisted in mapping the locations of Kyle Moorman’s cell phone.

10:41 p.m.: Tip: The caller possibly saw Kyle Moorman in Parke Co, IN but did not observe any children. Detectives followed up on this sighting, but the tip was unfounded.

July 12

10 a.m.: Tip: Marquette, Michigan caller saw a male with three children believed could be Kyle Moorman. Detectives followed up on this sighting, but the tip was unfounded.

10:35 a.m.: Tip: Auto Glass repair business advised that Kyle Moorman had his windshield replaced the day he went missing. Text messages from Kyle Moorman and invoice collected.

12:30 p.m.: Detectives and Aviation Unit using drones conducted a search of the pond at 2921 Bluff Road and the surrounding area. Nothing was located on the surface of the water and there were no indications that a car entered the water. While detectives were at the scene, Kyle’s family approached them advising that they hacked his email and showed the last known location was near the 3000 block of Bluff Road.

12:51 p.m.: Detectives scheduled a DNR sonar boat search at the ponds at 2921 Bluff Road and Sloan Ditch Pond for July 13 at 9 a.m.

1 p.m.: Detectives began reviewing Kyle’s cell phone records. It was determined there were two possible locations on the southeast side where Kyle’s phone last pinged.

1 p.m.: Detectives reviewed a video at a business located on Bluff Road. On July 6 the video shows a similar vehicle matching the description of the vehicle driven by Kyle Moorman, however, it could not be confirmed as Moorman’s vehicle.

2:29 p.m.: Detectives reviewed data sent from the FBI on detailed phone records for Kyle Moorman’s cell phone.

2:57 p.m.: Tip: The caller believed he/she saw Kyle Moorman's vehicle stopped on side of the road at Arlington/Shelbyville, just south with trash bags sitting outside of the vehicle.

3 p.m.: Detectives and the Aviation Unit, using drones, conducted a search of Sloan Ditch Pond. Vehicle tracks are located on the pond’s edge; however, nothing is observed in the water.

Police are urging anyone with more information to contact IMPD Detectives at 317-327-3475 or Jesus.Soriajr@indy.gov. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477 or (TIPS).