The grandfather of the eastern Idaho toddler missing since last summer is holding out hope that he’s OK.
This comes as the private investigator hired to find DeOrr Kunz Jr. says there is evidence that he is not alive.
The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office is also releasing new information on the case that has captured the attention of the entire country.
DeOrr’s family hired Klein Investigations and Consulting out of Texas to find the missing 2-year-old. Philip Klein tells KTVB that DeOrr wasn’t attacked by animals and wasn’t abducted. He believes he’s now dead, either by accident or intentionally.
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DeOrr Kunz Jr. has become a name people across the country are now familiar with.
On July 10, 2015, he went missing from a campground in Lemhi County where investigators say he was staying with his parents, great-grandfather and another man.
Ever since then, his grandfather, DeOrr Kunz, has been hopeful his grandson is OK.
“We know he is alive and we will stay with that until they show us something different,” said Kunz.
This comes despite grim news from private investigator Philip Klein who says he doesn’t believed DeOrr is still alive. We asked Klein via Skype if he has found any physical evidence of DeOrr’s death.
“I cannot comment on that right now, I will be up front and honest with the public and say there is forensic evidence,” said Klein.
Klein says after 80 interviews and hundreds of hours of investigation, a new witness has come forward. Klein believes in the weeks after DeOrr’s disappearance many were scared to share what they knew because of harsh criticism seen on social media.
“The case continues to build, the information continues to build, so I think people are comfortable with us now, and I think we are moving forward,” said Klein.
He says his team is getting close to solving the case and his investigators are heading back to Idaho soon for what he calls the second phase — reconstructing the crime scene and walking back through the timeline.
Meanwhile, DeOrr’s grandfather says his family continues to feel support from those in Idaho and across the country.
“It’s overwhelming the help and response we got from people, good-hearted people, and I thank you all very, very much,” said Kunz.
He says they just held a fundraiser this past weekend to raise money to pay for Klein’s services and says people’s donations were appreciated.
“I just want people to know that as far as my family is concerned my grandson is alive and that’s the way it is,” said Kunz.
Chief Deputy Steve Penner with the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday he didn’t want to comment on Klein’s latest release, but did send a statement: “The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office reports that new leads have developed in the missing person case of 3-year-old DeOrr Kunz. Investigators have obtained previously withheld information regarding the case and the investigation continues.”
Philip Klein says he has been in communication with the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office.
