Vanished in the Pines: The Disappearance of DeOrr Kunz Jr. and the Secrets Beneath Timber Creek
He was two years old. The creek was shallow. The woods were quiet. And then-nothing.
On a July afternoon in 2015, toddler DeOrr Kunz Jr. was last seen at a remote campsite near Timber Creek in Lemhi County, Idaho. Minutes later, he was gone. No footprints. No clothing. No clear trail for dogs to follow. Despite one of the largest searches in Idaho's recent history-helicopters, divers, drones, seasoned trackers-not a single trace was ever found.
In this deeply researched, compassion-first account, Linda Davidson reconstructs the hours before DeOrr vanished, the frantic search that followed, and the long years of unanswered questions. With care for everyone affected, she explores the competing theories-wandering, accident, abduction, wildlife-and the investigative challenges posed by rugged terrain, shifting timelines, and the unforgiving clock of those first 48 hours.
This isn't a rush to judgment. It's a careful walk through silence.
Inside you'll find:
A clear, timeline-driven narrative of the day at Timber Creek
How wilderness searches work-and why some leave no evidence at all
The role of community, media, and private investigators in a case that divided a town
Age progression, ambiguous loss, and the psychology of waiting without answers
Practical resources for families facing a disappearance
For readers of The Cold Vanish, Missing 411, and documentary true crime, Vanished in the Pines is both investigation and elegy-an unflinching look at a mystery that refuses to close, and a gentler portrait of the little boy at its center.
DeOrr Kunz Jr. is still missing.
The forest keeps its secrets.
This book won't stop asking.
