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UPDATE: Nevada rancher recalls encounter that led to rescue of Idaho missing kids

Posted at 1:01 PM, May 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-16 19:05:31-04

UPDATE MAY 16: A Nevada woman who alerted authorities after the father of two missing Idaho girls showed up on her ranch says the man was cold, barefoot and looking for help for the kids he said he left behind in the mountains.

Vera Baumann said she had seen news reports and suspected the man who walked to her home Monday was the father of 7-year-old Madison Ann Dundon and 6-year-old Jaylynn Dawn Dundon.

Baumann's husband confirmed the person who arrived on the ranch was Joshua Dundon and spoke with him while she called 911. The man later gave directions to authorities on where to find the children.

The girls were found by searchers several hours later and taken to a hospital to be treated for exposure and reunited with family members.

The Eureka County Sheriff says several items described by Dundon's relatives as being in his possession were located on the mountain side, including survival gear like weapons and ammunition.

When law enforcement arrived, Dundon told officers the two small girls were still alive in the hills a distance away.

Personnel from several agencies came together to search a four-mile area around the ranch that Dundon described as where he left the girls.

At around 7 p.m., the first searchers spotted the girls under a tree and carried them out of the rough terrain to Emergency Medical Services. The girls were transported away from the area and flown from Eureka County to receive additional medical treatment for exposure.

Joshua Dundon also received medical treatment. He was flown to a disclosed Nevada hospital and was booked upon release.

Dundon was taken into custody by law enforcement and is being held on $5 million bond.

The warrant charges Dundon with felony kidnapping/custody interference.

Extradition matters will be addressed once he is able to appear in court to return to Idaho for prosecution. No local charges are pending at this time out of Nevada.

ORIGINAL STORY

An AMBER Alert has been issued in Idaho for what authorities are now saying are two abducted Boise girls.

On Sunday, the Boise Police Department sent out a news release asking for the public’s help in locating a father and two daughters who hadn’t been seen since about 10 a.m. May 10.

“Third hand information suggests the three may be camping, but that information has not been substantiated at this time,” the BPD release stated.

The father -- identified Joshua Bradley Dundon -- was known to drive a silver 2005 Chevrolet Silverado quad-cab diesel pickup with Idaho license 1A U473T.

On May 11, in Eureka, Nevada, the Sheriff’s Office found a burned vehicle in a rural part of the county.  After authorities dismantled the truck and found a partial VIN number, they were able to confirm that the vehicle was a pickup truck belonging to Dundon.  Deputies on scene were also able to locate multiple sets of footprints in the area. This information along with other evidence uncovered during the investigation led authorities to issue an AMBER alert.

“Several expired ammunition casings were located on scene.  Witnesses heard a gunshot at the time they approached the burning truck,” the Idaho State Police release added. “Joshua is known to use illicit drugs. He recently made threatening statements and suicidal statements. Joshua has been identified to have firearms in his possession."

The two missing girls who are now the subject of the AMBER Alert are Madison Ann Dundon and her sister, Jaylynn Dawn Dundon.

Madison is 7 years, 8 months old, stands 4-feet tall, and weighs about 40 pounds. She has blond or strawberry-blond hair and blue eyes. She also has pierced ears.

Jaylynn is 6 years, 5 months old, stands 3 1/2 feet tall, and weighs about 35 pounds. She has brown hair, brown eyes and a scar over her left eye. She also has pierced ears.

Joshua Dundon, 29, is about 6-feet tall. He has brown hair and blue eyes.  

It is not known what type of vehicle he may now be driving.

If you have information about Dundon or the two girls, you are urged to call Boise  Police at (208) 343-2677.