I realise that the "carried/dragged away by wild animal" theory has probably been largely discarded, mainly because the boots would probably have fallen off.
However just in case anyone is still interested in it, two observations....
In one of the two "true crime radio" interviews, the sheriff mentions that wolves and bear were seen in the area during the first week's search.
Also I read about mountain lions (=cougars=pumas) and found that they sometimes take their prey immediately to a more concealed location some distance away, sometimes uphill, and sometimes conceal by covering with leaves and soil
However just in case anyone is still interested in it, two observations....
In one of the two "true crime radio" interviews, the sheriff mentions that wolves and bear were seen in the area during the first week's search.
Also I read about mountain lions (=cougars=pumas) and found that they sometimes take their prey immediately to a more concealed location some distance away, sometimes uphill, and sometimes conceal by covering with leaves and soil