Father asks for help in finding kidnapped son

A Reno father is asking for the public's help in finding his 4-year-old son believed abducted by his mother in April.

Lyon County issued a warrant June 27 charging Karen O'Grady, 49, with felony kidnapping in the abduction of her son, Erik Buran, on April 25.

According to father, Robert Buran, he and his ex-wife have shared joint custody of Erik since their divorce in 2001. Buran had Erik three days a week, and O'Grady had him four days.

Just before the abduction, Buran had filed for sole custody of his son and had lodged a complaint with Child Protective Services alleging O'Grady's boyfriend physically abused Erik. Since then, a Reno judge awarded Buran sole custody.

On April 21, Karen O'Grady's boyfriend, Steven Streight, allegedly picked up Erik from Buran's Reno home and took the boy to stay with O'Grady in Fernley until April 26.

"I expected him to bring Erik back five days later, and he never did," Buran said.

When he went to O'Grady's Concord Circle home in Fernley he discovered it nearly vacant.

"There were half-packed bags all over the place. It was like they decided to move then just fled in just a few hours," Buran said.

Neighbors told Buran that O'Grady, Streight and Erik drove off in a recently purchased motorhome.

Buran said investigators have been unable to find a motorhome registered to O'Grady or her companion.

The make and model of the vehicle is unknown. It's believed O'Grady or her boyfriend purchased the vehicle from a private party.

"I believe that there are possibly people in Fernley who knew the mother, this boyfriend and this whole situation, and who might have information and might come forward," he said. "The most critical information we can get at this point is information on that motorhome. If we had that, it would make a world of difference."

O'Grady may possibly be in Texas, New Mexico or California, Buran said.

Erik is listed as missing by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Nevada Child Seekers, Child Find of America and the Vanished Children's Alliance.

The recent return of a Fernley girl allegedly abducted to Mexico by her mother's live-in boyfriend, buoyed Buran's hopes that his son will return to him. He also saw the publicity generated by her disappearance to be helpful in her recovery. Up to this point, Erik's abduction hasn't been publicized.

"I really believe if we run this story, we will get information on this motorhome that will lead us to Erik. I hope people will come forward to help," he said. "I've got to believe he's coming home."

n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.

You can help

• Erik Buran is 4 years old, 3 feet, 6 inches tall, with bluish-grey eyes and sandy blonde hair.

• Karen O'Grady is 49 years old, 5 feet 4 inches tall, with blue eyes and brown hair. She also uses the last names of Akers, Buran and Ligon.

• Anyone with information about their whereabouts or about a motorhome O'Grady or her companion purchased just before they disappeared is asked to call the Lyon County Sheriff's Department at 577-5096.