Atadero Family Receives Memorial Tribute

Rep. Gagliardi is Family's Incredible Hulk

(Denver) Nine years have passed since 3-year-old Jaryd Atadero went missing while hiking with a church group in northern Colorado. Friday, his family joined Representative Sara Gagliardi (D-Arvada) and Senator Brandon Shaffer (D-Longmont) at the Capitol to receive a memorial tribute remembering their son.

In a tragedy that shocked parents across Colorado and throughout the nation, young Jaryd went missing while on a hiking trip with his church in the Rocky Mountains near the Poudre Canyon in 1999.   

Rep. Gagliardi presented the memorial tribute to Jaryd’s father, Allyn Atadero, and other family members at the Capitol Friday.  They were joined by search and rescue dogs Jack (Bloodhound), Bandit (Field Springer), Pele (Redbone mix) and Cleo (Bluetick), their owners, and Arvada police officers.

The tragedy has inspired Allyn to write a compelling real-life account of his own suffering, Missing: The Jaryd Atadero Story. 

“No family ever thinks this will happen to them.  Most people don’t plan for this type of tragedy.  I am committed to making more tools available to ensure a speedy search and rescue when children do go missing” Rep. Gagliardi announced. 

Rep. Gagliardi and Sen. Shaffer have worked closely with the family to identify opportunities for increased interaction and support from search and rescue teams in times of need.

“We need to do everything we can to ensure that people feel safe enjoying Colorado’s outdoor areas,” remarked Shaffer. “That must include applying the necessary tools and expertise to get immediate help to the people who need it.”   

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 797,500 children are reported missing annually; 2,185 per day.  Here in Colorado, 14,330 children were reported missing in 2006.

After receiving the memorial tribute from Rep. Gagliardi, Mr. Atadero said, “Everyone needs an incredible hulk in their life.  For us, Rep. Gagliardi has been our incredible hulk: H-heart, U-understanding, L-love, and K-kindness,”  Rep. Gagliardi and Shaffer were among the first legislators to respond to the family’s request for help.

“Our goal and desire is to introduce legislation to help families.  We intend to prevent them from experiencing the devastating pain of the loss of a child,” Allyn Atadero explained after sharing Jaryd’s heartbreaking story.

-- Posted by staff