Missing toddler ‘was probably attacked by mountain lion’

A TODDLER missing for three-and-half years whose tattered clothes were discovered last week was probably attacked by a mountain lion, authorities said. Three-year-old Jaryd Atadero vanished on October 2, 1999, while on a hiking trip with a church group. He had been running ahead so he could find hiding places and say “Boo!”.

Jaryd’s fleece pullover, tattered pants and shoes were found last Thursday in the Comanche Peak Wilderness Area, several hundred feet above the trail where he disappeared, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said yesterday.

Searchers spent six days in the area after Jaryd vanished but did not find anything. No remains have been found, but Alderden said search teams will return to the site this Saturday. He also said officials will test two hairs found on the clothing to determine their origin.

The boy’s father, Allyn Atadero, said he was not yet certain Jaryd was dead.

“The clothes don’t tell me what happened. All we can do is speculate,” he said. I would give anything to hold any part of Jaryd right now.”

The sheriff said the case appears to be consistent with an attack by a mountain lion, but said authorities may never learn what happened.

The boy’s jacket appeared intact and his tennis shoes also appeared unscathed, but the pants appear to be turned inside out and the right leg is missing.