2 YR OLD DEORR KUNZ JR, MISSING FROM IDAHO CAMPGROUND

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't understand why the parents are refusing media interviews.

They did the one local interview shortly after Deorr went missing - the one that is posted upthread. But, that's it. The mom's Facebook account with the Missing flyers is now inaccessible to the public as well.

Parents of missing children typically clamor for media attention to make the public aware of their missing child, especially if they believe the child has been abducted.

I also keep wondering why they'd take an old man who is apparently physically and mentally unhealthy on a remote camping trip where he'd presumably be sleeping on the ground, there would be no standard toilets, the ground is wobbly, etc... That's what makes me wonder if Reinwand was supposed to be watching gramps who was supposed to be watching little Deorr.

I'd still really like to hear more about gramps' exact condition and his relationship with Reinwand. I'm suspicious of Reinwand based on what little we know about him, but I could also see him and gramps being kinda clueless and making excellent scapegoats.

[username]

All good points/questions, HotD. Typically parents clamor for media attention to heighten public awareness.


I can only hope LE is quietly building a case. Reinwand seems fishy but then so do the parents.

[Maggot]

This statement from the first post.

'Who would harm us this way?' Mitchell said. 'Especially knowing how much he means to us. He's everything to us.'


Uses the word "us" 3 times.

[HairOfTheDog]

This statement from the first post.

'Who would harm us this way?' Mitchell said. 'Especially knowing how much he means to us. He's everything to us.'


Uses the word "us" 3 times.

The bolded statement by the mom stuck out to me too, Maggot.

If the parents suspected a stranger abduction, the stranger obviously couldn't be expected to know anything about the parents and hurting the parents wouldn't be the goal of the abductor.

It might not mean anything. But it makes me wonder a little if the mom suspects somebody other than a complete stranger, or if the parents aren't being completely honest and are looking to convince people that they're victims.

[sally]

I noticed that too, and it was at the time when there was still a good chance that he was either in the water or the woods.

[sally]

I also keep wondering why they'd take an old man who is apparently physically and mentally unhealthy on a remote camping trip where he'd presumably be sleeping on the ground, there would be no standard toilets, the ground is wobbly, etc... That's what makes me wonder if Reinwand was supposed to be watching gramps who was supposed to be watching little Deorr.

Perhaps they thought gramps and Rain Man would enjoy getting a little fresh air in the great outdoors. Then right as they turn their back a lunatic comes out of nowhere and grabs the kid. Makes sense.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah, it seems unlikely that (according to the paternal grandfather who wasn't even there) there was only a 4-minute window of time that Deorr wasn't being watched in the remote area, and that either a two-legged or four-legged predator was secretly lurking around ready to pounce in that short time.

That could have happened, I guess. But, the different accounts that have emerged from family members bother me a little. Gramps' daughter (Jessica Mitchell's mom) says gramps was watching the kid, turned his head for a minute, and Deorr was gone. The parents claim that gramps said he figured the kid was with them, and that they figured the kid was with gramps. The paternal grandfather somehow has narrowed the time that nobody was watching Deorr down to 4 minutes. And, none of them mentioned what Reinwand was doing anywhere in their accounts. A fourth adult at the campsite is a big detail to leave out unintentionally (seems more likely, to me, they left him out on purpose for some reason).

Anyway, at present, I'm inclined to believe that little Deorr was either left unattended for a lot longer than between 4 and 15 minutes and wandered off to his death (neglect), or he was a victim of foul-play and cover-up. I hope, like user said, that LE has a good idea of what happened and they're just working to make their case behind the scenes.

[HairOfTheDog]

LE UPDATE 7/31/15

I was glad to see an update from Law Enforcement today, even though it again conflicts with previous statements made by LE.

That's okay, at least they're apparently looking at things again and again in search of answers.

So, what's new:


1. ^ Lemhi Sheriff Lynn Bowerman says he's convinced that Deorr Kunz Jr. was not abducted from the campsite. However, he's not closing that possibility to investigation.

2. The sheriff now says that all four of the adults at the campsite are considered Persons of Interest (nobody is ruled-out or cleared at this point, including gramps).

3. The sheriff also said today that the FBI is sending a team of investigators to assist the Lemhi County Sheriff's office; they will be checking the sheriff's office interviews and may re-interview some people to make sure deputies didn't miss anything.

This is good news; I think the small sheriff's office could use some help from interrogation professionals with more resources and experience.

4. The sheriff confirmed that there is not a 24-hour LE presence at the campsite, but he does send officers there to search every day.

http://www.kboi2.com/news/local/DeOrr-Ku...03121.html

[HairOfTheDog]

“We continue to hope and pray that our ‘lil man’ will be found soon,” Jessica Mitchell and DeOrr Kunz Sr., DeOrr’s parents, said in a short written statement to EastIdahoNews.com.

Their comments came the same day Lemhi County Sheriff Lynn Bowerman told KBOI 2News the FBI is helping his detectives with the investigation.

DeOrr’s parents confirm they have been in contact with the FBI and, according to Kunz, investigators have searched their house and vehicles.

http://www.eastidahonews.com/2015/07/par...-be-found/

[sally]

I wonder why they're convinced it wasn't an abduction? That only leaves the parents, gramps and Rainman, or the water and forest that doesn't look likely anymore.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't know exactly what's convinced the sheriff against abduction. Maybe statistical probability, maybe the polygraph results, maybe something one of the POIs said in their interviews...

It's a remote area and it seems improbable that someone could have been lurking around waiting for a 2-year-old to be absolutely unattended for enough time to be snatched up and taken off without detection. It could have happened, but not the most likely scenario.

Little Deorr could be in the water. If so, if the search expert who was interviewed is right, his body would be floating to the surface sometime soon.

Or, little Deorr could have been carried off by a mountain lion or other animal without leaving a trace. It's happened more than a few times (in some of those cases, no remains or clothing were found for weeks/months despite extensive searches of the area).

But, I think the FBI will be focusing on the likeliest statistical probability -- foul play. They're going to re-interview witnesses, including gramps, mom, dad, and Rainman. It's confirmed that they've searched the parents' house and vehicles. I don't know if they searched Reinwand's though.

I saw that Jessica's mom (Deorr's grandma) was answering some questions on the local new station's Facebook. Her name in Trina Clegg. She posted the following:

1. Reinwand was in a separate vehicle -- two vehicles at the campsite.

2. She was told Reinwand was fishing at the creek when Deorr was discovered missing; she was surprised and doesn't know why he answered affirmative to the reporter when asked if he was at the campsite at that time.

3. Gramps lived next door to Reinwand before gramps moved in with Trina a couple of years ago; little Deorr's mom and dad hadn't met Reinwand before the trip.

4. She believes someone took little Deorr, but doesn't want to accuse anybody or point fingers.

5. Regarding the bawling, dirty, blond boy at the store -- she indicates that mom Jessica Mitchell was at the store with the baby and Deorr Sr. They went to the store (30 - 40 minutes from camp) because mom needed "female items". Jessica texted her from the store to say she'd gotten them at 12:28 p.m. Friday (about 2 hours before little Deorr was reported missing).

6. Grandma Trina was planning to join the family at the campsite on Sunday.

Jessica's sister and little Deorr's aunt, Mariah Mitchell, also posted on the Facebook page. She says she wishes people would stop with the accusations and that she wants to stop the rumors.

Source: KFI NEWS 8 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LocalNews8/post...8256878872
-If you view by "Most Recent" you'll see Mariah Mitchell's comments and reply string.
-If you view by "Most Recent" you'll see a comment by a female with initials KG. View the "replies" under her comment and you'll see Trina Clegg's comments.

[HairOfTheDog]

It's been a month since Deorr went missing. The local police confirmed yesterday that they've turned over all evidence and interview tapes/recordings to the FBI and expect to hear back within 6 weeks.

The family has hired a Private Investigator who says that he believes little Deorr was adbducted. Story: http://q13fox.com/2015/08/11/private-inv...r-kunz-jr/

--------------------------------

Meanwhile, another little boy went missing from a Grand Canyon campground in Arizona six days ago.

He'd been with his family and a group of about 20 campers. He was reportedly chasing grasshoppers and wandered off. The group searched for him for 5 hours before calling LE.

Authorities said more than 1,000 people helped in the search over five days that covered about 21 square miles. The search was aided by military helicopters equipped with night vision equipment, ground crews with dogs and ATVs, and numerous volunteers from Jerold's hometown.

Jerold Willams was found Monday by volunteer searchers from his hometown of Colorado City, Az. They were driving about 4 miles from where the 5-year-old was camped when they spotted his body laying close to the road, fully clothed, with no external injuries.


RIP Jerold Williams

Authorities believe Jerold died of environmental exposure; he likely froze to death on the same night he wandered off. So effin' sad. How could he have gotten so far without hearing people calling for him? I wonder how long he was out of sight before his family and the other campers realized he was gone.

Story: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/arizo...d-33018921

[HairOfTheDog]

Sheriff Lynn Bowerman and one of his deputies did an interview with East Idaho News last week.

It's helpful in understanding the case better in that they describe what the family told police, the time line, the investigation...



I get the sense that Bowerman is intentionally coming across as clueless, but that he has a suspect(s) in mind. I could be wrong or just thinking wishfully though.

[Love Child]

Any evidence now could be burned in fires anyway.

This story actually makes me really sad, so the only way I can deal with it is stupid jokes. I can see the sadness on the officers face as well. I can't imagine. Although I know someone else who lost a small child when they ran out into a road and got hit by a car. A family relative was watching the child at the time, it is very tragic and a terrible thing to happen to a family.

[Carsman]

Any evidence now could be burned in fires anyway.

This story actually makes me really sad, so the only way I can deal with it is stupid jokes. I can see the sadness on the officers face as well. I can't imagine. Although I know someone else who lost a small child when they ran out into a road and got hit by a car. A family relative was watching the child at the time, it is very tragic and a terrible thing to happen to a family.

Yes very tragic in deed. However, they had closure, sad, but the end.

Deorr's parents (if not involved) do not have closure as they still don't know the what, where, when, & IF . . . . .

[Love Child]

Exactly.
There is no closure.
It is sad.

[HairOfTheDog]

2 MONTHS PASS -- PRIVATE DETECTIVE ISSUES PRESS RELEASE




A private investigator working with the family of DeOrr Kunz Jr. says he’s working several “solid leads” that could lead to information on the missing Idaho Falls toddler.

Frank Vilt (pictured above), a retired US Marshal, says he recently received information on his tip line about a potential person of interest and a possible suspect vehicle. He is waiting to consult with Lemhi and Bonneville County detectives, before releasing specific details to the public.

DeOrr disappeared while camping in Leadore on July 10. Vilt says he continues to meet with family members who were at the campsite – including Jessica Mitchell ('mom') and DeOrr Kunz Sr. ('dad'), Robert Walton ('gramps'), and Isaac Reinwand, a family friend who was also on the camping trip.

Vilt tells EastIdahoNews.com that during his investigation he learned the FBI collected several items from everyone at the campsite, including an ax and pair of coveralls from Walton.

Lemhi County Sheriff Lynn Bowerman says Kunz, Mitchell, Walton and Reinwand have been cooperating with law enforcement. None of them have been named suspects, but all are considered “persons of interest” because they were at the campsite when DeOrr disappeared.

Vilt is offering a ten thousand dollar reward for information that leads to DeOrr. He hopes to create a reenactment of events at the campsite with DeOrr’s family members and Reinwand, although when or if the reenactment will take place is not known.

Vilt set up a national phone tip-line in hopes of finding DeOrr. The public is asked to call (888) 852-6505 with information on his disappearance.

http://www.eastidahonews.com/2015/09/kun...ppearance/

[HairOfTheDog]

It's been 3 ¹⁄₂ months since little Deorr was reported missing. There have been no arrests and no word from the FBI on the status of the investigation.

The parents and aunts of little Deorr conducted searches of the campground last weekend and requested the public to help. Soon it will be snowing and searches will not be possible. It doesn't appear law enforcement is conducting official searches, though the sheriff's investigation is active.

Here's the interview with the family at the campground last weekend.

[ramseycat]

I dread coming in here. I expect to read his body had been found. Although, no news isn't any better. That little boy is dead. I can't imagine the pain the parents are in not knowing. Unless they do know and the searches are just for show.

[Love Child]

The newest update I read today is that they believe he is dead. They are trying to figure out if it was intentional or accidental death. And it is not believed to be an animal at the campsight.

The family friend has retained legal counsel.