Search Continues in Boise County for Remains of Teenager

 

     On Saturday, June 8, fifty searchers and two certified cadaver canines spread through the mountains above Pine Flats Campground to search for remains of Kyle Tolley, a 17-year-old male wearing only a t-shirt and shorts, and no shoes, who disappeared August 18, 2001, after a night of revelry and drugs.

  Boise County Detective, John Krempa, was contacted six weeks ago by Tolley’s family, who questioned the status of his disappearance. “None of the people who worked on the case have worked for the county for many years,” explains Krempa. “The only person who was familiar with the file was Forest Service officer, Rick Kline. I spoke to him, read the narratives and got a lot of the background.”

  On the morning of Tolley’s disappearance, Boise County Sheriff Gary Brown got a call from Pine Flats camp post, who stated that two campers reported three guys who were “really acting weird”.

  At the hot springs, Brown arrested two young men “out of their minds”, who were high and hallucinating (one was Tolley’s brother). At their campground, 400 yards east of the springs, the sheriff also arrested the wife of one of the men. She was high also but was coherent enough to state that Tolley had taken off up the hill, saying he was going to find the nearest McDonalds.



Dan Scovel, Search Manager for Idaho Mountain
Rescue, top right, advises searchers to ask
 if it doesn't look right: "make notes about
what you see; don't make anything up--you've
got to be truly factual."

  After booking the three people, Sheriff Brown returned for their car and did a quick search for Tolley, who had left behind over $300 in his wallet. Brown figured the kid had hitched a ride. It took the family two years to realize the transient Tolley was missing and to file a report.

  Why did it take ten years for the county to act on the report? Detective Krempa answers, “It happens all the time. You get a call—people scatter. It’s routine. Years ago they didn’t go out searching—our attitude has come a long way since then. When I got the e-mail, I tracked down family members and the narratives matched. I got a DNA sample. We talked to Idaho Mountain Rescue (IMR) and the Idaho State Police (ISP) and we guessed he never left the area. I feel we do need to make an effort and we are definitely doing that.”

  On the morning of the search, Boise County Sheriff, Ben Roeber, says the canines separately located a spot of interest the night before, where bones were discovered. “We’ll have the ISP specialists up today to determine whether they are human or not.”

  Delinda Castellon, Public Information Officer for IMR, explains that the cadaver canines are highly trained to differentiate between human and animal remains and no personal possessions of the victims are used.

  Sheriff Roeber says his department requested assistance from IMR. “They come well-prepared, with a command trailer, accounting for a search, a plan for the teams with radio contact between everyone—it’s a portable dispatch center.”

  Roeber explains that rather than just wait for the ISP specialists, they’re using the situation as a training exercise. “We have time on our side and we’re not sure what we’ve found. With the elapsed time, the evidence may be scattered and we don’t want to let the opportunity go, now that we have these services.”

  Later in the afternoon, Detective Krempa announces the discovered bones have not proven to be human remains. It is a disappointment for all but he says there have been several areas identified that they will excavate.

  .In answer to why the canines have scented out bones of a deer, Detective Krempa speculates: “They can catch a scent in the wind. They are supposed to be cross-trained to miss deer and elk. It’s possible they know more than we think—both dogs focused on the same spot though both were out separately. We will have to excavate.”

  The searchers and canines involved bring their services to the county for no remuneration—in fact, as Detective Krempa says, they all have to spend to be here. The common concern of different volunteers and the professionals was expressed by Delinda Castellon: “We feel privileged that the sheriff called us out on this. We all hope for success. There is a tremendous sadness here for the family—it would be great to offer some closure.”

In photo: Anne Moser trained Watson, her giant schnauzer, who is certified in Cadaver and Lifeline Air Search