Lemhi County authorities search for 2-year-old missing boy

BOISE – Authorities have called off a search for a two-year-old boy who wandered off from his family’s campsite near Timber Creek Reservoir.

Family and friends organized a prayer vigil at Freeman Park.

“We haven’t found a thread”, Lemhi County Sherriff’s Incident Commander, Dave Morelli, told KBTV.

In an interview with EastIdahoNews.com, Deorr Kunz Sr. and Jessica Mitchell say they are praying Deorr Kunz Jr. will be found soon.

Kunz, Sr. says that the missing toddler was last seen with his grandfather around 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.

“If somebody has him please don’t hurt him”, Mitchell said.

“There’s a possibility that he may be with somebody and that’s what is giving us hope”, says dad DeOrr Kunz Sr.

“We’re looking for you son and we will find you, and we love you more than anything in the world”, Kunz told East Idaho News as part of an emotional promise directed at the child.

The parents of a 2-year-old who’s been missing since Friday believe the boy was abducted. Some did grid searches on foot while others were on horseback and rode ATVs. A comprehensive search of the 2.5-mile radius of the family’s campsite turned up no clues.

Kunz, Sr. doesn’t think his son is on the mountain anymore and is with someone. “I mean, we’ve got it covered as far as getting it out there”.

Lemhi County immediately initiated a search to include dispatching a number of resources including but not limited to officers from the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office, Salmon Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in the area, Salmon Search and Rescue, Leadore EMT’s, and others. “You have a lot of people that love you, and buddy, we’ll find you”. More than 150 people have been looking for him since his disappearance, but now, days later, the large search is being scaled back.

“He could be very, very close”, Mitchell said.