ID - DeOrr Kunz Jr, 2, Timber Creek Campground, 10 July 2015 - #1

[travelbug]

Just 2 quick thoughts. Are there porta potties and/or outhouses close to the campsite. Maybe the little guy decided he needed to go and fell while climbing up on the seat. Also, as much as it pains me to say it, they may be assembling search and recovery teams and dogs for this week. The dogs used are different than the search and rescue dogs.

 

[ninij9]

The uncut video left me in tears. I am sorry I doubted the parents. They are hurting bad. I have some admiration for this dad. He is really articulating everything so well. I'm so sad that they may be in for so much more pain.

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[ninij9]

Before my son (age 7 at the time) went on his first Beavers overnight trip, they watched a "How to stay safe in the woods" video (and I'm glad they did). One of the recommendations was to wear a red jacket. You're right though, obviously a 2 year old is going to be too young to learn the sort of lessons required to survive alone in the woods. What were his parents doing at 1:30 in the afternoon, I wonder, to lose track of him? Does not seem like they were being as vigilant as you'd need to be on a camping trip with a young child. Personally, I wouldn't even attempt such a trip, near water, with a child so young.

I took my daughter camping when she was 2. There was another toddler as well. There was a lake too. But I never even left her with my husband. I was crazy like that. In this case, I don't think their grandfather will be watching anymore of his grandkids any time soon.

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[jmcgladr]

I took my daughter camping when she was 2. There was another toddler as well. There was a lake too. But I never even left her with my husband. I was crazy like that. In this case, I don't think their grandfather will be watching anymore of his grandkids any time soon.

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I get it. I'm very overprotective myself, I'll admit it! My parents took me camping when I was still in diapers, near a lake too I believe. In a big group though, so lots of eyes. I think that makes a difference. For my part, my kids are 8 and almost 10 and I will hardly leave them alone for a few minutes. Thinking of getting them GPS watches for when they start walking to school on their own. I'm a little crazy, I think - lol! But they're my everything.

 

[ClaireNC]

From the video it sounds like they felt the campground was safe. The father, DK, said that the campground area is open and in a "bowl" surrounded by foothills/mountains. When you are in the campground it is open and you can see all around the area. You can't see out of the bowl, however, anybody on the other side of the reservoir can see into it.

I was in that part of Idaho many years ago. Not specifically in that campground, but the general area. The area is not heavily wooded, like you might expect. It is the foothills where the mountains meet the desert. You can get a really good feel for the area by looking at it in "tilt" on Google Earth. https://www.google.com/maps/place/T...data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xfc08c0c1c2dea9b

I think they felt a sense of security there, maybe let their guard down a bit. We used to take our children camping a lot when they were little, including a month long camping trip traveling around Idaho. It's such a beautiful place and it does feel safe, wholesome, peaceful. It is not the kind of place that you feel the need to be hyper-vigilant hovering over your children every waking minute. IMO

 

[ninij9]

I get it. I'm very overprotective myself, I'll admit it! My parents took me camping when I was still in diapers, near a lake too I believe. In a big group though, so lots of eyes. I think that makes a difference. For my part, my kids are 8 and almost 10 and I will hardly leave them alone for a few minutes. Thinking of getting them GPS watches for when they start walking to school on their own. I'm a little crazy, I think - lol! But they're my everything.

I wish we had GPS watches. My poor kids, I was on them like Velcro. Sometimes when there are lots of eyes on them, everyone assumes someone else is watching them. My kids are 15 and 19. I still bother them.

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[ninij9]

After hearing how the layout of campground is, and where they camped, I'm starting to think maybe someone did take the baby. I think grandpa was snoozing if he was the only one by the set up. That's the only way someone could have come in and snatched him unless he wandered into another area and it was a crime of opportunity. But he still could have wandered off and be somewhere nearby, or have been taken by an animal to a den (sorry).

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[JeannaT]

I sure wish I could see actual photos of their actual campsite, and where the grandpa was sitting, and where the boy was remembered to be. Lots of photos.

I'm just not picturing - at all - a camping area that appears "closed off" with "nowhere to go". All the campsites I've ever seen, and the aerial view ClaireC posted above, appears to me you could walk days in any direction and never be found. I don't see how you can have a "bowl" in the earth that a 2 year old can't get lost in, if it's wooded.

And creeks. From witness accounts, there are several creeks (or at least one). Why in the world is the sheriff so certain he didn't fall in? How can you possibly determine a child did NOT fall into a rushing creek, unless you find him somewhere else and determine it that way? He could have walked a mile down the creek, and fallen in, and it doesn't seem the sheriff has any call to say that didn't happen.

 

[Mountain]

This is SO frustrating. IMHO, that baby is out there somewhere, probably about 4 miles from their campsite, still alive. I wish they could put the resources into finding him that was put into finding those two escaped felons in New York, and Ember's Dad in California.

I am beyond angry that LE stopped looking for him. The chance that he is still clinging to life, miles from their campsite, is VERY VERY high.

Oh my gosh...they have suspended the search already. That is crazy!

 

[Seymour Krelborn]

DEORR KUNZ, Age Now: 2, Missing: 07/10/2015. Missing From LEADORE, ID. ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT: Lemhi County Sheriff's Office (Idaho) 1-208-756-8980.

More...

 

[ninij9]

Oh my gosh...they have suspended the search already. That is crazy!

In the unedited interview that parents gave the dad said they weren't actually stopping the search. He said that organised searchers were planning to go in on horseback and the family was still searching as well. I hope this is still true.

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[ClaireNC]

I sure wish I could see actual photos of their actual campsite, and where the grandpa was sitting, and where the boy was remembered to be. Lots of photos.

I'm just not picturing - at all - a camping area that appears "closed off" with "nowhere to go". All the campsites I've ever seen, and the aerial view ClaireC posted above, appears to me you could walk days in any direction and never be found. I don't see how you can have a "bowl" in the earth that a 2 year old can't get lost in, if it's wooded.

And creeks. From witness accounts, there are several creeks (or at least one). Why in the world is the sheriff so certain he didn't fall in? How can you possibly determine a child did NOT fall into a rushing creek, unless you find him somewhere else and determine it that way? He could have walked a mile down the creek, and fallen in, and it doesn't seem the sheriff has any call to say that didn't happen.

The area is not as heavily wooded as some other parts of Idaho. It is where desert meets mountains. Things are fairly easy to see from the air and they have done some extensive air searches. The sides of the "bowl" start to get pretty steep and would not be very inviting for a toddler. It looks like there are mountains or foothills on three sides. The only way out of the bowl is the north side near the creek. Yes, he could have wandered up out of the bowl along the creek or in what appears to be another dry gully/creek bed that runs on the right side of the campground. As for the creek itself, his father said that it is pretty shallow and has been very thoroughly searched. The reservoir is also shallow and has been searched.

In my mind, the creek/water is still a concern and they should continue search it. However, I am really thinking that this baby didn't just wander away. Just not sure how an abduction could occur since the area is so open.

I agree some photos of the campground would be wonderful. Do we have anybody local?

 

[margarita25]

*This is the link (under the above photos) that says "The search for a missing toddler in Lemhi County has been suspended. (Photo: KIFI)"

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/loca...-year-old-continues-in-lemhi-county/30058523/

 

[SCHMAE]

Waiting a week means they don't expect to find him alive, right? If they thought the baby was alive, they do not stop searching. What is up with this ?

 

[margarita25]

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/loca...-year-old-continues-in-lemhi-county/30058523/

 

[margarita25]

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/loca...-year-old-continues-in-lemhi-county/30058523/

 

[margarita25]

http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/loca...-year-old-continues-in-lemhi-county/30058523/

 

[SCHMAE]

Vigil Held for Missing Toddler: “He’s mommy’s boy and daddy’s little mini-me”

http://www.eastidahonews.com/2015/0...ler-hes-mommys-boy-and-daddys-little-mini-me/

God bless them. I typically do not watch the videos in these threads and this one is exactly the reason why. There was a case about 2 yrs back of a little girl about this age who was camping and went missing. She was found in the river. I cannot remember her name but it was a very happy name. lease: be safe little Deorr.

 

[ClaireNC]

FYI for those joining the discussion. There are two Timber Creek Campgrounds, the one he is missing from is north closer to Leadore. Search for Timber Creek and Stone Reservoir and you will find the right campground.

 

[margarita25]

That is not the right campground. There are two Timber Creek Campgrounds, the one he is missing from is further north closer to Leadore. Search for Stone Reservoir and you will find the right campground.

woops my bad!! Deleting post now, thank you! :wave: