Since the mountain lion theory inevitably comes back in the conversation, I wanted to post some excerpts from Allyn's book to help curb some of the questions. These are e-mails Allyn received from mountain lion experts and an attack victim, all with first hand accounts of dealing with mountain lion kills/attacks.
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First, as a father of 3, I offer my deepest empathy for your loss. You are suffering every parent’s worst nightmare. I find it most unlikely that a mountain lion could turn pants completely inside out. I won’t say “impossible” but I would say “99% unlikely.” Inside out with no trace of blood would be about as close to impossible as I can imagine. —Steve
Atadero, Allyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (p. 343). Kindle Edition.
March 14, 2015
Hi Allyn,
These are the only clues provided to me: no mountain lion hairs on his clothing, no trace of blood,
pants turned completely inside-out absence of any stains that might have come from either blood or decomposition fluids
Based on these clues, I do not believe that a mountain lion killed and ate your son. A forensic specialist might be able to advise whether all traces of blood or decomposition could have disappeared in 4 years, but it strikes me as unlikely. I would expect a mountain lion to tear clothing in the process of removing it. I do not believe that a mountain lion could turn pants inside out. It also seems most unlikely that a mountain lion would eat the sweatshirt but remove remove the other clothes. I am sorry for your loss.
—Steve
Atadero, Allyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (p. 343). Kindle Edition.
March 16, 2015
Dear Mr. Atadero—I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your son. However, based on the information you provided it doesn’t sound like he was a victim of a mountain lion attack. First, when mountain lions attack they usually ambush their prey, jumping on its back and biting the neck. A sign of such an attack would have been quite apparent on the clothing that was found. Second, mountain lions do not “skin” their prey (or shed their clothing.) A shirt would have been torn and bloodied in the area of the chest cavity if a lion was involved. I hope this information helps you in your search.
—Tim Dunbar Executive Director Mountain Lion Foundation
Atadero, Allyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (pp. 343-344). Kindle Edition.
March 25, 2015
Hi Mr. Atadero—Sorry about the delay in getting back to you—I’ve been out of the office for the past few days. I and my biologist looked at the photos and could discover no signs of a mountain lion attack. At the very least I would have expected to see evidence of blood on the back and shoulders of the jacket. As I indicated in my previous email I am sorry for your loss, but do not believe that the evidence points to an animal attack.
Tim Dunbar
Executive Director Mountain Lion Foundation
March 18, 2015
Dear Mr. Atadero, First of all, on behalf of all of us at the Cougar Network, please accept our deepest sympathies regarding the loss of your son. We are so incredibly sorry to hear of your loss and of course will help however we can in your time of grieving. Based on the information you provided, it doesn’t
sound to me like a mountain lion killed your son. However, please keep in mind I am not a forensic scientist and I have only your brief description to go by. But given the circumstances, the fact that his clothes were found (and not ripped to shreds), and that his body was never recovered sounds like something else may have happened. Have you spoken with cougar biologists in Colorado? They most certainly could answer your questions, as they would have local knowledge of the cougar population there, and their behaviors. In the interest of your sensitivities, I will spare you the details of a cougar kill (usually deer). However, if you would like me to describe a typical kill for comparison (or even provide pictures so you can see what I’m talking about), please let me know. I hope that this has been helpful for you and please let me know if there is anything further with which I can assist you. Michelle LaRue, PhD Executive Director Cougar Network
Atadero, Allyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (pp. 344-345). Kindle Edition.
March 23, 2015
Hi Allyn, The strangest thing in my mind, sadly, is the lack of blood on the clothes. I am guessing you and others have raised that question as well? I would think there would be blood present if a mountain lion took your son. I can’t say what clothes being left in the wilderness for 4 years should look like, but I would think they should be a lot more beat up than that, and have DNA evidence of a cougar somewhere. Again, I’m so very sorry for your loss and I wish I could do more to help you. Best, Michelle Executive Director Cougar Network
Atadero, Allyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (pp. 345-346). Kindle Edition.
March 17, 2015
Allyn, First of all, I am very sorry to hear about your son Jaryd. Please know I am praying for you for a peace and answers to your whole ordeal. And please, feel free to ask me anything if it helps.
Thank you for taking the time to write me and share your story. Very humbling... Let me start off by saying I am in no way an expert in forensics, nor any of the sort. I do know a little about mountain lions as you can tell by my own personal attack story at:
www.lionkingministries.com. Only by the Grace of God was I able to get away and down that mountain that day. I know this without question as the peace I felt when I saw the face of Jesus during my screams and run down the mountain. Per your ordeal, one question I would have is no blood on anything. It would be incredibly rare that the mountain lion wouldn’t puncture something on your son’s body.Thus, giving way to some sort of blood drip. I know my shirt, shoes, socks, shorts, and hiking pack all had blood as well as the path itself. In fact, the searched path (3 flattened locations under different trees deeper in the mountains) by hounds found small blood spots. Of course I was about 135 lbs at the time and fought back as hard as I could. Have investigators done any blood samples on the clothing? Or even hair samples? Your story reminds me a little of:
Boy, 10, Killed by Mountain Lion. Now is it possible that your son’s fear overwhelmed him and he passed out. Thus, no fight and the animal was able to easily remove the clothing? Possibly. Having no blood would be my big question. Hopefully, they were able to test the clothing even four years later. Hopefully, the weather did not destroy any evidence. Not sure if any of this helps at all? I can only pray someday you find peace with all this. I know your son is walking hand in hand with Jesus now and that, my friend, is the most peaceful, most loving place any of us can be. Praying for you...God Bless Allyn.
—Andy Peterson
Atadero, Allyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (pp. 346-348). Kindle Edition.
. Wishing you all the success in the world with the leads you are investigating !
