CO CO - Jaryd Atadero, 3, Comanche Peak, 2 Oct 1999

[Thunder Street Ministry]

I felt it necessary to post this as it relates to Poudre Canyon and the Big South. We hope and pray that the last remaining areas we needed to investigate will not be completely destroyed. As it sits, it's going to take a miracle. But we tend to believe in those more than most...

Cameron Peak Fire burns portions of popular Colorado campground

 

[Lue123]

We don't have reason to believe that he would have tied his jacket around his waist. Jaryd didn't even know how to tie his shoes. He would have carried his jacket with him if he took it off, and would have been left behind on the trail in any scenario. As for the sweatpants holding the shoes in, it must be stated again that Jaryd always walked around with his shoes untied which is exactly how they were found.

I find it odd that you say we have no reason to believe that he couldn’t of tied his jacket around his waist but yet you KNOW that if he took it off he would of carried it and left it.

My just turned three year old can wrap his coats around himself.

Seems like you try to cast doubt on anyone’s theories that don’t align with yours...

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

Thank you for responding. The temperature on the mountain only reached highs in the 50s, and the temp drops futher on the mountain. According to historical weather data, it dropped below freezing at night. This is consistent with both the sheriff's report and Allyn's account of events. As such, Jaryd would not have removed his jacket at any time. My point was to illustrate the psychology of Jaryd at that age and in the hypothetical scenario he took off his jacket, from stories Allyn told us about Jaryd. It is my understanding he would have been more likely to carrier it based on other events in his life and would not have tied it around his waste. Perhaps an adult would have tied it for him if temperatures were warmer, but no one reported Jaryd having worn his jacket around his waist. This was consistent up to the last sighting of Jaryd.

The reason I so often come against certain ideas on this page is not to come down on anyone or to cause embarrassment, but to help keep all the evidence in proper context. So often families come up against theories that only take into account one piece of evidence or part of a scenario and, often unintentionally, ignore the implications the rest of the evidence. We don't presume to know everything about the case, but with several individuals out there trying to cash in on the paranormal interpretation of events, it was important for us to study every aspect of this case down to the letter. In doing so, we found out a lot more than what these paranormal guys were revealing. So I apologize if my posts have frustrated you and/or others, it isn't our intention by any means, but we've thought about every other scenario you can think of and abduction is the only one that remains at the top by a wide margin.
________________________________________________________

I feel this is a good time to let everyone know why we chose to remain absent from posting online for some time. Earlier this year we released a statement on our website and Facebook page indicating our desire to take our efforts offline and focus our energies in a more focused and private way. At the beginning of this endeavor, we felt that in generating conversation about the case, other more experienced individuals might see the discrepancies present in Jaryd's disappearance and be interested in taking up the cause. This didn't happen, and with all the paranormal white noise on Youtube regarding the case, it likely drove some away from involvement.

To those who participated, we thank you for doing so and hope you have a blessed life ahead in Jesus' name.

 

[whatsnext]

Thank you for responding. The temperature on the mountain only reached highs in the 50s, and the temp drops futher on the mountain. According to historical weather data, it dropped below freezing at night. This is consistent with both the sheriff's report and Allyn's account of events. As such, Jaryd would not have removed his jacket at any time. My point was to illustrate the psychology of Jaryd at that age and in the hypothetical scenario he took off his jacket, from stories Allyn told us about Jaryd. It is my understanding he would have been more likely to carrier it based on other events in his life and would not have tied it around his waste. Perhaps an adult would have tied it for him if temperatures were warmer, but no one reported Jaryd having worn his jacket around his waist. This was consistent up to the last sighting of Jaryd.

The reason I so often come against certain ideas on this page is not to come down on anyone or to cause embarrassment, but to help keep all the evidence in proper context. So often families come up against theories that only take into account one piece of evidence or part of a scenario and, often unintentionally, ignore the implications the rest of the evidence. We don't presume to know everything about the case, but with several individuals out there trying to cash in on the paranormal interpretation of events, it was important for us to study every aspect of this case down to the letter. In doing so, we found out a lot more than what these paranormal guys were revealing. So I apologize if my posts have frustrated you and/or others, it isn't our intention by any means, but we've thought about every other scenario you can think of and abduction is the only one that remains at the top by a wide margin.
________________________________________________________

I feel this is a good time to let everyone know why we chose to remain absent from posting online for some time. Earlier this year we released a statement on our website and Facebook page indicating our desire to take our efforts offline and focus our energies in a more focused and private way. At the beginning of this endeavor, we felt that in generating conversation about the case, other more experienced individuals might see the discrepancies present in Jaryd's disappearance and be interested in taking up the cause. This didn't happen, and with all the paranormal white noise on Youtube regarding the case, it likely drove some away from involvement.

To those who participated, we thank you for doing so and hope you have a blessed life ahead in Jesus' name.

Wishing you and Jaryd's family all the best, and that you will get answers one day. But I still think that keeping Jaryd's disappearance and the circumstances of his recovery talked about in public still is the best chance to generate some new leads. But that's only my personal opinion and I respect the family's decision.

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

The temperature on the mountain only reached highs in the 50s, and the temp drops futher on the mountain.

Meant to say the temp in the canyon reached a high in the 50's, and the temp drops further on the mountain.

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

Wishing you and Jaryd's family all the best, and that you will get answers one day. But I still think that keeping Jaryd's disappearance and the circumstances of his recovery talked about in public still is the best chance to generate some new leads. But that's only my personal opinion and I respect the family's decision.

Thank you. We appreciated your input and willingness to converse. Don't stop talking about Jaryd's case, and always keep the totality of evidence in view when investigating on your own. God bless.

 

[RipperJT]

I just heard about this case today... I can't speculate why Jaryd left the trail - forced by an animal or not. I'm just thinking out loud, but missing persons like children have the potential to walk much further than adults think them capable of. If temperatures dropped low.. it makes sense for Jaryd
to strip down, take off his pants and shoes, etc - at the point of undress, he may have been in the latter stage of hyperthermia.

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

I just heard about this case today... I can't speculate why Jaryd left the trail - forced by an animal or not. I'm just thinking out loud, but missing persons like children have the potential to walk much further than adults think them capable of. If temperatures dropped low.. it makes sense for Jaryd
to strip down, take off his pants and shoes, etc - at the point of undress, he may have been in the latter stage of hyperthermia.

That wouldn't explain how his clothes ended up at the top of a mountain ridge. There is no way he could have handled the terrain. I can see hypothermia and paradoxical undressing occurring along the trail, but his clothes would have remained there.

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 2, 2024

25 years later: How 3-year-old Jaryd Atadero's disappearance changed missing children cases in Colorado

A young boy who mysteriously disappeared more than two decades ago forever changed how Colorado reacts to missing children.

www.denver7.com

In June 2003, hikers located Jaryd's clothing. Not long after that, some remains of Jaryd were also found.

"The way they were found was consistent with... this is something that would have been an abduction by a cat. So there's just, there's nothing that indicated anything else over the years," Smith said, adding that he's confident a mountain lion is to blame for Jaryd's disappearance.

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

Sadly, Allyn Atadero has passed away at the age of 67. Prayers for healing and comfort to his family during this difficult time. He has all the answers now.

Father of Jaryd Atadero, whose missing persons case made worldwide headlines, has died

The father of Jaryd Atadero, the boy whose mysterious death on a trail near Fort Collins in 1999 created a cult-like following of the case, has died.

www.coloradoan.com

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

OCT 2, 2024

25 years later: How 3-year-old Jaryd Atadero's disappearance changed missing children cases in Colorado

A young boy who mysteriously disappeared more than two decades ago forever changed how Colorado reacts to missing children.

www.denver7.com

In June 2003, hikers located Jaryd's clothing. Not long after that, some remains of Jaryd were also found.

"The way they were found was consistent with... this is something that would have been an abduction by a cat. So there's just, there's nothing that indicated anything else over the years," Smith said, adding that he's confident a mountain lion is to blame for Jaryd's disappearance.

Despite being the most prevalent and argued non-abduction theory of Jaryd’s disappearance, the much-debated mountain lion attack scenario has the most evidence against it. During the initial search week, trackers had come across mountain lion prints near the area Jaryd was last seen. These tracks intersected with what one experienced tracker thought was the track of a small child. There was a dispute between the trackers as to whether or not the sign was actually made by a child or were that of a bear, which can sometimes resemble a human footprint.

Yet regardless of the type of tracks, three individuals from the Division of Wildlife concluded that the mountain lion tracks were older than the smaller prints, which were likely those of a bear. The tracker who discovered them, “Seaux”, later told Allyn he was certain the cat never saw Jaryd. DOW personnel agreed, and could not find any evidence of an attack anywhere or any evidence to support the theory. (LCSO Supplemental Field Incident Report 99-06-59.S02, Pg. 5.)

In Allyn’s book Missing: When the Son Sets, he includes a number of emails he received in reply to inquiries made to mountain lion specialists after the clothing and remains were recovered in June of 2003. Their replies are telling:

“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

March 14, 2015

(Atadero, Allyn; Atadero, Arlyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (p. 342). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.)
__________________
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 the other clothes. I am sorry for your loss.

—Steve March 16, 2015

(Atadero, Allyn; Atadero, Arlyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (p. 342-343). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.)
___________________

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; Atadero, Arlyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (p. 343). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.)
___________________

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

(Atadero, Allyn; Atadero, Arlyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (p. 344). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.)
___________________

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

March 17th, 2015

(Atadero, Allyn; Atadero, Arlyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (pp. 344-345). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.)
__________________
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: News from California, across the nation and world - Los Angeles Times news/mn-14282. 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; Atadero, Arlyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (pp. 346-348). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.)
___________________

The most damning piece of evidence that came out of the investigation is the report filed by the NecroSearch recovery team:

“The failure to locate any other remains leaves several questions open, most notably the location of the primary scavenging and decomposition site. Locality 1 seems the best candidate given the presence of the clothing. However, the reported absence of any stains that might have come from either blood or decomposition fluids indicates that they were removed from, or by, the victim prior to the time that any significant bleeding or decomposition took place. Consequently, the clothing cannot be unequivocally assumed to mark the spot of the primary scavenging or decomposition of the remains...However, the reported absence of any stains that might have come from either blood or decomposition fluids indicates that they were removed from, or by, the victim prior to the time that any significant bleeding or decomposition took place.

“Further, no evidence was recovered that would provide grounds for rejecting the view that predation by a large carnivore, possibly a mountain lion is the most plausible explanation of the death of the individual whose remains were recovered in the search reported here. If the remains are demonstrated to be those of Jaryd Atadero, it seems that he was taken by a large carvivore [sic], most likely a mountain lion, in his last foray away from the group with which he was hiking. The activities of other hikers on the trial and the searching subsequent to the discovery of Jaryd’s disappearance would have encouraged the animal to move away from the kill site, which must have been fairly close to the Big South trail, to a more secure location.” (Atadero, Allyn; Atadero, Arlyn. Missing: When the Son Sets: The Jaryd Atadero Story (pp. 340-341). UNKNOWN. Kindle Edition.)

No blood, no decomposition fluids, not a single trace of DNA on the clothing. Hairs found on the clothing were discovered to be non-human and non-mountain lion..."

[Sources: Jaryd Atadero: Full Disclosure Part One, thunderstreetministry.com/jaryd-atadero-2/; Missing: When the Son Sets by Allyn and Arlyn Atadero; Larimer County Sheriff's Report.]

 

[303gmf]

Sadly, Allyn Atadero has passed away at the age of 67. Prayers for healing and comfort to his family during this difficult time. He has all the answers now.

Father of Jaryd Atadero, whose missing persons case made worldwide headlines, has died

The father of Jaryd Atadero, the boy whose mysterious death on a trail near Fort Collins in 1999 created a cult-like following of the case, has died.

www.coloradoan.com

Sad, a well liked PE teacher at my daughters school
Mr A

 

[Ksprincess2]

Sadly, Allyn Atadero has passed away at the age of 67. Prayers for healing and comfort to his family during this difficult time. He has all the answers now.

Father of Jaryd Atadero, whose missing persons case made worldwide headlines, has died

The father of Jaryd Atadero, the boy whose mysterious death on a trail near Fort Collins in 1999 created a cult-like following of the case, has died.

www.coloradoan.com

@Thunder Street Ministry I thought he had a daughter too? I didn't see her mentioned at all in this article.

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

@Thunder Street Ministry I thought he had a daughter too? I didn't see her mentioned at all in this article.

He does have a daughter named Josallyn. She was featured briefly in the Missing 411 doc. I am not sure why she was left out of the article.

 

[jennytrevor]

Is it not possible that he got lost, died of exposure, and then was later eaten by animals at that point?

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

Is it not possible that he got lost, died of exposure, and then was later eaten by animals at that point?

Thank you for asking. While the Big South Trail has many places where a child could be injured or killed, and animal predation after death would explain why there was no blood discovered, several factors rule this out as the cause of death:

1. After the sheriff's scent dogs were given a proper scent article, the dog followed a trail that led them to campsite 4 and then 3 before going back down to the trail again. It stopped at the river's edge, and did not show any further interest. One of the dogs was taken down the trail in cadaver mode, also took some interest in a spot by the river bed, but otherwise could not pinpoint a source. To illustrate how keen the nose of a dog can be, a volunteer searcher took a dog up Pingree Park Road (which runs through the hills on the southern side of the canyon) where his dog picked up the scent of human remains from a murder victim that had been placed in a mineshaft before his attacker collapsed the entrance with dynamite. The corpse had been in there for over a decade. If Jaryd had died anywhere on the trail, a dog would have picked up his scent even if a cougar had carried him off. Mountain lion tracking dogs were brought to the trail but did not pick up a scent around the trail.

2. The clothing allegedly "discovered" by Robert Osborne and Gareth Watts were found in an unusual state: shoes that appeared barely worn, pants that were inside out but a soft pullover jacket that was not, and the absence of Jaryd's blue tank top and underwear. Not a single hair belonging to Jaryd was found on the jacket. It surely would have contained at least one strand of hair on the inside having been pulled over his head, and likely more if it were pulled off. The fact that his shoes made it up to the 9160ft elevation point while being untied the entire trip is very telling.

3. As stated in my previous post about the animal predation scenario, all qualified parties could not find evidence for an animal attack between the points of interest along the trail and the site where the remains were found. Analysis by mountain lion experts also pointed away from an attack scenario.

Thank you for reading.

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

It was on this day 22 years ago that Jaryd's case went into a tailspin with the "discovery" of clothing matching that worn by Jaryd Atadero. The two hikers who reported the clothing, Robert Osborne and Gareth Watts, told a meandering and contradictory tale about their ascent up the mountain. It brought many further frustrations to the Atadero family, whose voices seemed to fade into the background with the mountain lion theory clanking loudly from LCSO.

You can click the link below to visit the case summary and view photos of the clothing and remains on the Case Photos tab (For mbile users: the tab is located at thr bottom of the page).

Jaryd Atadero - Thunder Street Ministry

Jaryd Atadero October 2nd, 1999 LOCATION The Big South Trail off Highway 14 in Poudre Canyon, CO, approximately 48.1 miles west of Fort Collins. SYNOPSIS Jaryd Atadero (3) went missing while on a group hike with familiar and unfamiliar individuals present. INVESTIGATING AGENCY Larimer County...

thunderstreetministry.com

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

Thank you @Tricia and @Fraize for spotlighting this thread and helping to keep Jaryd's case alive. Blessings to you both.

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

The account of the two hikers who reported child's clothing on the mountain don't make a whole lot of sense, and it would be nice to have some clarification on some of their statements, which have their exact words preserved with errors and all.

Statement from Robert Osborne. -

“On June 4th, 03, my hiking partner and I discovered clothing we believed to be Jaryd Tanabero [sic]. We had known of his disappearance on October 2nd 1999 and had hiked Big South on 3 other occasions prior to, and often commented on this childs disappearance. While we were hiking past camp 2 we deviated off The main trail and wound up to the east of it. At the time, we thought the main trail was further to the east of us so we started bushwacking in that direction. As we hiked – we climbed the side of the gorge, and at early on we realized the trail last lay to the west of us – we were having fun bushwacking, so we continued up the side of the mtn. Heading east. Within about 20 minutes of our climb up, my hiking partner called out to me that he had found something and could not believe it. When I saw it was a shoe – I immediately assumed it was the 3 year old boy who had been reported missing 3 years earlier. We came across another shoe, sweat pants and shirt within about 30 feet of the shoe. These items were photographed where they were located having not been touched. The shirt and one shoe were placed in a bag and brought to Larimer county sherifs [sic] department June 5th along with the photographs at 1:00 P.M.”

Statement from Gareth Watts -

“DAY HIKE UP BIG SOUTH TRAIL STAYED ON MAIN TRAIL UP TO CAMP I went TO Camp I. THEN BUSHWACKED UP & TO THE RT OF camp I. HIT A SKEE ROCK FIELD & WENT mostly STRAIGHT UP. SPOTTED KIDS sneaker. THEN 2END Sneaker was Spotted Then BLUE sweatpants? . & THEN BIEGE FLEECE VEST. ALL WITHIN 20’ oF EACH OTHER. LOOKED ABOVE FoR ANY SIGHNES OF ANYTHING – NOTHING. LOOKED BELOW THE 4 ITEMS NOTHING. STARTED TO SLEET & RAIN WENT BACK TO TRAIL HEAD & WE DROVE HOME WENT TO SLEEP THEN WORK & THEN SHERIFFS OFFICE”

To give context to these statements, the Big South Trail runs in a southerly direction from the trailhead. East of the trail takes you up the side of the mountain, which was their stated direction. They even state their awareness of the fact that they deviated off the main trail and wound up to the east of it. West takes you downhill straight back to the trail. Going further west from the trail takes you to the south fork of the Cache La Poudre River.

Another point I would like clarification on is the disparity between their points of departure. Osborne says they went to campsite 2, and Watts says they went to campsite 1 (but states it with a Roman numeral I.) This is impossible, as they are on opposite side of the rock field they claimed to have hiked up, with about 370 ft. of distance between them. On the trail, that is a significant distance. The sites are clearly marked with signs that say 1, 2, 3, etc. and not Roman numerals.

In Missing 411: The Movie, the two hikers are interviewed beginning at the 26:30 mark.

The find gave Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden the needed leverage in pushing the mountain lion theory to the press. Allyn Atadero and family vehemently questioned the find, and later heard from mountain lion experts who all but confirming that an animal attack was unlikely. Search and rescue personnel stated in the sheriff’s report that they could find so signs of an attack, and no fresh mountain lion tracks were ever found by trackers. Famed Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Baden was interviewed on Fox News about the find, saying that in a mountain lion attack you wouldn’t just find clothing. You would find small bones in the shoes, and would at least find a tooth. They found the top of the skull and a clean, individual tooth ten days later when they had the NecroSearch forensic team search the area. NecroSearch was unable to find any corroborating evidence to support the mountain lion theory. Osborne and Watts were adamant it was a mountain lion and staunchly tried to convey this to Allyn Atadero.

 

[Thunder Street Ministry]

Several news segments of Dr. Michael Baden commenting on the clothing reported to the Larimer County Sheriff's office in 2003.