14 questions you wanted us to ask the DeOrr Kunz private investigator

Published at 12:47 pm, January 21, 2016 | Updated at 2:39 pm, July 11, 2016

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com

Philip Klein, a private investigator based in Texas, has been working with the family of DeOrr Kunz Jr. and conducting his own investigation in the disappearance of the three-year-old Idaho Falls boy.

Earlier this week, in an in-depth interview with EastIdahoNews.com, Klein revealed some significant new developments in the case. He believes the child was either accidentally or purposely killed and that at least one person will be prosecuted in the case.

Klein agreed to answer further questions from EastIdahoNews.com viewers. Dozens were submitted on our Facebook page and we selected 14 to present to Klein.

Here is the unedited question and answer transcript. Click on the video above to watch the entire conversation.

Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com reporter: Mr. Klein, thank you very much for joining us and answering some of these Facebook questions. We’re going to start with Kammie. She asks, “Are there things that happened prior to the camping trip that come into play in this investigation?”

Philip Klein, Klein Investigations & Consulting: Well, you know, that goes into the timeline of this event, but I would be willing to publicly say everything is in play at this point. This is now, as far as our team is concerned, a death investigation and so we’ll be developing everything before, during and after the actual event of the 911 call at 2:26 p.m. in the evening.

Eaton: What you just said may lead into our next question. Michelle asks, “The parents have stated that, despite investigator statements, they believe their son is still alive. Is there a chance, even a small one, that he might still be alive?”

Klein: As far as our team is concerned and the nine investigators in the room – no, we do not believe he is alive.

Eaton: Mariah asks, “How do we know, without a doubt, that he wasn’t picked up by a wolf and carried back to its den?”

Klein: In that portion of the investigation there were certain, let’s say, pieces of clothing that would have been either left behind or would have been in another area if that had happened. There was no physical evidence found at the scene. We were able, through interviews of the rescuers, through interviews of folks that live up there – the ranchers, the people that actually go run cattle out there, and also the statements of the police officers – there is just no evidence to indicate that at all whatsoever.

Eaton: Lindsay asks, “Did the parents know Isaac before they went camping? Could he have been alone with DeOrr for any period of time?”

Klein: You know, I’m just not gonna answer that question. I appreciate the question, but that goes into the actual events and the timeline. As I’ve said before, we’re moving toward what we call the prosecutorial phase and so I kind of need to focus on keeping the security around the actual details.

Eaton: Julie wants to know, “If the death was intentional, are there motives you are exploring?”

Klein: Yes. The answer to that would be yes. Everything is on the table.

Eaton: Lisa Marie says, “Is it true that Isaac disappeared for over an hour after DeOrr disappeared or is this just another rumor?”

Klein: Again, that goes into the actual investigative issues that we are investigating. We’re not wiling to discuss that at this time but I would classify that probably as not a rumor.

Eaton: Melissa asks, “Have the trunks of the vehicles been checked for scent or evidence?”

Klein: I’m not gonna comment on that whatsoever.

Eaton: Misty asks, “Have you ruled out anyone as suspects?”

Klein: No. Nobody of the four people on the mountain have not been ruled out as suspects or persons of interest at this point.

Eaton: Robin wants to know, “Has the FBI shared their evidence with you or is there new forensic evidence that you have obtained since you started on the case?”

Klein: I think it would be inappropriate for me to discuss anything that we are discussing with law enforcement. The only thing I will say on the record is that we are in active discussions with law enforcement. We have been so. You’ve got the FBI from up there in Idaho, you’ve got Quantico involved, you’re got two great sheriffs that have given great detectives on this case, not to mention the sheriffs themselves – the guys who sit in the office. I would say that this is one of the greatest working operations between PSB (private security bureau) and law enforcement that I’ve seen probably in my 26 year career.

Eaton: Lisa wants to know, “What does Klein mean by information from folks that have come forward regarding axillary issues up on the mountain that day?”

Klein: What I mean by axillary issues are there are other issues that have come into play through interviewing sources we can say all the way back down to the timeline. I’m not willing to discuss the timeline publicly again because of prosecutorial issues, but I will say that axillary means that other information has been discovered during the course and scope of the operation – both forensically and through witness testimony. Those are still in development and it’d be unfair for me to say anything about that.

Eaton: Lae wants to know, “What does it take to force someone to cooperate with an investigation once they’ve hired a lawyer? Can the court order them to answer questions or what about a grand jury indictment?”

Klein: I am not familiar with the Idaho statutes other than I do know that the state of Idaho can convene a grand jury to hear testimony where a witness would have to go in to the grand jury without an attorney. They would have two options available to them. Option one is to give their testimony and tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help them God. The second would be to invoke their fifth amendment rights.

The second part of that question would be federal side. Federal grand juries are a little different monkey. Lying in front of a federal grand jury or refusing to answer in front of a federal grand jury is a crime as it is a crime to lie to a federal agent. Those are issues that I think witnesses in this case should be concerned with as well as some of these folks on Facebook that could be considered trying to throw an investigation off. If you’re questioned about it and you lie and say that wasn’t me, that’s a federal crime if an FBI agent asks you. In a roundabout way, this is coming down to probably a grand jury I would think at some point. The next question obviously is what’s the timeline. That’s what we call the crystal ball concept. I’m not willing to look into a crystal ball and predict. We take every day as it comes and we’re moving the case along. Give law enforcement some room, give us some room and give the prosecutors some room and we’ll get there. Just give us some room.

Eaton: Annalee asks, “I would like to know if Great Grandpa or Isaac actually saw DeOrr on Friday or if they just assumed he was there because they had seen him Thursday?

Klein: Again that goes into testimony and I’m not willing to answer but I will say is we have witnesses collaborating that he was on the mountain on that Friday.

Eaton: Jessica says, “Why haven’t all four lie detector results been revealed?

Klein: That’s really a question that should be directed at law enforcement – both federal and state level. I want to repeat that again – on the federal and state level. We are aware of the polygraph tests and probably it’s in the best interest of everybody that they’re not released right now.

Eaton: And our final question is from Brandee. She says, “What are the next steps for law enforcement and Klein going forward with this case?

Klein: Great question, Brandee. I believe that the next step, as I’ve said earlier, is that we are actually focusing on that timeline. We’re going forward through the timeline and through witness testimony and secondary witness testimony. We are either verifying or denying what has been given to us before. For example, and I’m just giving you an example, if I say I’m at the 7/11 at 7 o’clock in the morning and then I give that testimony to an FBI agent or a police officer, obviously the FBI or police officers or PSB agents like us are going to verify that. So we’ll go do that through witness testimony and video so you can well assume we’re verifying everything on that timeline. And that’s pretty much the painstaking part right now – going through and verifying every minute, every fifteen minutes, every second in some cases where we’re verifying the testimony of the people that were on the mountain that day as well as the axillary issues and some physical evidence that has been discovered.

Eaton: Thank you very much Mr. Klein for joining us and discussing this. Stay with EastIdahoNews.com for the latest news on this developing case.

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