Jaryd Atadero, Big South Trail
A three-year-old who ran ahead on a group hike in Colorado's Poudre Canyon in October 1999; his clothes and remains were found up a steep slope in 2003.
1999 CE · 40.62, -105.80 · status: explained
The account
On 2 October 1999 Jaryd Atadero was hiking the Big South Trail in Roosevelt National Forest with his sister and a church singles group when he went ahead of the adults and disappeared. The Larimer County search covered river banks, slopes and the river itself; a search helicopter crashed during it. In June 2003 hikers found his fleece, trousers and sneakers on a slope a few hundred feet above the trail, and searchers then recovered a skull fragment and a tooth, confirmed by DNA. In October 2003 the county coroner recorded that his death was 'probably caused by a mountain lion'. Missing 411 cites how far uphill he was found and the state of his clothing.
The sceptical view
Small children often climb rather than descend; mountain lions are present in the area; scavengers scatter remains and clothing over years.
Connections in the atlas
- Keith Reinhard, Pendleton Mountain
- David Gonzales, Big Bear
- The Missing 411 'profile points'
- Robert Koester, 'Lost Person Behavior'
- 'Missing 411' and Yosemite