Missing: the Jaryd Atadero story

by: Allyn and Arlyn Atadero

Published by: Tate Publishing (January release)

Reviewed by Knevits Stephens

Allyn and his brother are twins. He has two children–a girl Josallyn, 6, and a boy Jaryd, 3. Allyn is a teacher at a middle school in Colorado. Jaryd lives with his dad and sister and loves to play with his sister and hold hands.

Allyn and his two children were at the Padre River Resort in Colorado. On October 2, 1999, Josallyn and Jaryd went to Janet’s cabin to visit her. Janet is warm hearted and fond of the children. Later on Josallyn asks her dad if she can go on a hike. Allyn sees the group gathered and agrees to let her go. Jaryd wants to go as well so Allyn says okay. He kisses both children goodbye and tells them he loves him. Allyn didn’t know that this would be his last kiss to Jaryd or that he would never see him again.

Allyn was at the resort when a member from the group that went on a hike came to him and said that Jaryd was lost in the woods. Immediately Allyn headed to the Big South Trail to find his son.

Allyn tells his story of what happened on that October day in 1999–from the time his son became missing and what all happened with the search. He tells of a parent’s worst nightmare and the heart-wrenching agony of trying to live from day to day not knowing where your child is. There are a lot of different scenarios for what others think happened to Jaryd, but the truth is still unknown. Maybe if some things were done differently it would have been a different outcome.

I am a parent and my heart goes out to Allyn and his family. I was instantly drawn in to the book. There are pictures in the book as well as poems and an email address to reach Allyn if you would like to talk to him about the book.

Armchair Interviews says: A true story of one family’s tragedy told by the father.