Full Transcript

Cops Realize Killer Mountain Lion Is Hunting Them Too

11:52866 summary words · ~4 min readEnglishBy EWU BodycamTranscribed Jul 13, 2026

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Summary

A mountain lion fatally attacks a hiker in Colorado, forcing deputies to confront the ongoing threat while recovering the body and ultimately leading to the euthanization of two lions in a rare fatal attack.

The incident highlights the extreme risks law enforcement faces when wildlife becomes a direct threat to public safety and the critical need for rapid, coordinated responses in remote areas.

Section summaries

Incident Introduction and Witness Accounts

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The video opens with hikers discovering a murdered woman on a Colorado trail, followed by deputies arriving to investigate. Witnesses describe seeing a mountain lion dragging the victim's body, prompting immediate concern for public safety. The victim is identified as 46-year-old Kristen Kovatch, an ultramarathoner and medical assistant, with her time of death established by a physician witness.

Mountain lion dragged victim's body 100+ yards from trail
Victim was a known local outdoor enthusiast

Establishes the core incident and victim identity critical to understanding the case.

Deputies' Initial Assessment and Safety Concerns

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Deputies assess the scene, noting multiple injuries including broken bones and neck trauma. They recognize the mountain lion's lingering presence as a major threat, with one officer stating the predator 'has been watching us the whole damn time.' Discussions focus on evacuating civilians and hikers from the area while awaiting backup.

Victim suffered broken neck and facial injuries
Predator remained within 20-30 meters of officers

Reveals the immediate tactical challenges and evolving threat assessment.

Wildlife Behavior and Evacuation Protocols

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Officers discuss mountain lion hunting patterns, noting they typically avoid humans but return to kills for feeding. A helicopter is called to evacuate hikers, while deputies learn of three active lions in the area. Technical details emerge about the predator's speed (50 mph) and ambush tactics, heightening danger for responders in dense terrain.

Mountain lions can sprint 50 mph in short bursts
Three known predators in the area

Provides critical context on predator behavior and emergency response procedures.

Body Recovery and Predator Tracking

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Deputies document the attack scene, reconstructing how the lion likely lunged from elevated terrain. They locate the predator bedded down nearby, leading to a failed shooting attempt. The lion escapes uphill, prompting coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife for specialized tracking teams.

Shooting missed the lion completely
Predator bedded down within 25-30 meters

Shows the real-time challenges of tracking and neutralizing a dangerous animal.

Specialized Response and Investigation

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CPW confirms rabies tests will be needed, while deputies maintain perimeter until a specialized team arrives. They observe the lion's persistent surveillance behavior, noting it 'kept shifting its position to watch' their movements. The investigation focuses on determining whether disease or natural predation caused the attack.

Lion actively monitored officer positions
Rabies testing required for definitive cause

Highlights investigative protocols and the predator's calculated behavior.

Body Extraction and Family Notification

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A helicopter safely evacuates Kristen's body, marking Colorado's first fatal mountain lion attack in 25+ years. Deputies notify her parents personally before news spreads, with the father initially believing it was a prank. The family learns the victim was attacked while running on a trail near Glenn Haven.

First fatal mountain lion attack in Colorado since 2001
Family notified before public disclosure

Covers the human impact and official communication protocols.

Cause of Death and Public Reaction

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Medical examiner determines death from asphyxiation due to neck compression, ruled an accident. The father expresses disbelief at the attack's brutality, while authorities grapple with the rarity of such incidents. Social media spreads the tragedy, raising concerns about public awareness versus family privacy.

Cause of death: asphyxiation from neck trauma
Attack deemed accidental, not intentional

Clarifies medical findings and public health implications.

Aftermath and Platform Promotion

optional

CPW successfully euthanizes two of three lions, confirming negative rabies tests. The video concludes with promotional content for additional footage and a subscription service, emphasizing the rarity of such attacks while urging viewers to engage with extended content.

Two lions euthanized; third remains unaccounted
Rabies ruled out as contributing factor

Focuses on platform promotion rather than new information.

Key points

Mountain Lion Attack on Hiker — On New Year's Day 2026, 46-year-old ultramarathoner Kristen Marie Kovatch was fatally attacked by a mountain lion while hiking in Colorado's Croer Mountain area, with witnesses reporting the predator dragging her body away from the trail.
Deputies' Realization of Ongoing Threat — After recovering the victim's body, deputies discovered the mountain lion was still nearby, actively watching their movements and refusing to abandon its kill, prompting immediate evacuation concerns for both civilians and first responders.
Wildlife Management Response — Colorado Parks and Wildlife deployed a specialized team to locate and euthanize the lion, ultimately killing two of three known predators in the area after confirming negative rabies tests and determining the attack was an accident.
Rare Fatal Attack Statistics — With only one other recorded fatal mountain lion attack in U.S. history (1977), the incident emphasizes how exceptionally rare such events are, with experts noting the victim likely had minimal time to react during the ambush.
Family Notification Protocol — Deputies personally informed the victim's parents of her death before news spread via social media, highlighting the importance of controlled communication during high-profile tragedies.

“I think he's been watching us the whole damn time.” — Deputy

“That's a big cat. That is not a kitten.” — Deputy

AI-generated from the transcript. May contain errors.

0:00

Someone murdered her.

0:03

>> There there's there are continuous

0:05

murders.

0:05

>> She She was attacked by an animal.

0:12

>> That's the worst thing ever.

0:15

>> That's a big cat.

0:17

>> That is not a kitten.

0:19

>> Deputies head into the Colorado

0:21

wilderness after a mountain lion fatally

0:23

attacks a woman on a remote hiking

0:25

trail. But the recovery mission becomes

0:28

far more dangerous when they realize the

0:30

predator isn't ready to leave its kill

0:32

behind.

0:33

>> I think he's been watching us the whole

0:35

dang time.

0:36

>> Yep.

0:36

>> Like I'm just letting you know that

0:38

thing is still hunting.

0:39

>> The cat does have a death penalty

0:41

coming.

0:42

>> The following is based on official

0:44

police records released to date and the

0:46

footage has never been seen before until

0:48

now. On New Year's Day 2026, two hikers

0:52

in the Croer Mountain area alerted local

0:55

authorities after witnessing a mountain

0:57

lion dragging a woman's body off the

0:59

trail.

1:01

>> Hello.

1:02

>> How we doing?

1:02

>> Good. Okay.

1:03

>> This is the two RP.

1:07

>> And so where's she at?

1:09

>> So she so she up there about 100 yards.

1:12

>> So we were walking and I looked up and I

1:14

thought it was somebody's dog and then I

1:16

thought that's weird. But then I saw

1:18

there was a large on.

1:20

>> He's a physician. He checked signs of

1:21

life. She was cold.

1:22

>> Yes, she was cold.

1:23

>> You are a physician.

1:25

>> The woman is later identified as

1:27

46-year-old Kristen Marie Kovatch, an

1:30

ultramarathon runner, avid hiker, and

1:32

certified medical assistant. As a

1:34

physician, the witness was able to call

1:36

her time of death at 12:40 p.m. But

1:39

bringing Kristen's body down from the

1:41

mountain won't be easy, and there are

1:43

many dangers still lurking. And you guys

1:46

said you could still see the cat.

1:48

>> Yeah,

1:49

>> he was trying to drag her away.

1:50

>> Okay. Um,

1:53

have you seen which direction the cat

1:55

went?

1:58

>> It hung around. It was going to go away.

1:59

>> It It's probably still going to be in

2:01

the area.

2:02

>> So, um,

2:05

>> oh yeah, we was creeped out big time. We

2:08

were like making a lot of noise and like

2:10

that thing is not. Also known as cougars

2:12

or pumas, mountain lions are elusive

2:15

predators and generally avoid people

2:17

whenever possible, but they're also

2:19

known to return to their kills over the

2:21

course of several days to feed. So the

2:24

lion's lingering presence is not

2:26

unexpected. For deputies still hiking to

2:29

the scene, this only raises the stakes.

2:32

>> It attacked one person, it could attack

2:34

another one.

2:36

Doesn't usually mean good things about

2:39

the health of the cat.

2:42

I'm I'm just going to guess that this

2:43

cat bedded down somewhere within a mile

2:45

of this.

2:45

>> Yeah.

2:46

>> Just like

2:48

unless it's rabid. If it's rabid, then

2:50

who knows?

2:52

>> I mean, the nice thing is that these are

2:54

thin trees. Like these are not prime

2:55

trees to that a cat would want to be up

2:57

in. I don't think

2:59

>> mountain lions often hunt by stealth

3:01

using trees, brush, or higher ground to

3:04

ambush their prey. With civilians still

3:06

on the trail and the lion's location

3:08

unknown, a helicopter is called in to

3:11

evacuate them and other hikers to

3:13

safety. But as first responders remain

3:15

at the scene and wait for more backup, a

3:18

sudden noise leaves them on high alert.

3:23

Hey,

3:28

>> sound like bird.

3:33

>> Have you heard a mountain lion scream?

3:36

>> But have you do heard a mountain lion

3:38

call scream?

3:40

>> I've heard them call for their young. My

3:42

analogy is it almost sounds like birds

3:44

around you. If you think it's birds,

3:46

more than likely cat.

3:47

>> That's why I just perked up.

3:49

>> Yeah. Capable of sprinting up to 50 mph,

3:52

a mountain lion can cover the length of

3:54

a football field in about 5 seconds. And

3:57

as deputies move deeper into the trail

3:59

to observe the body, they're now

4:00

entering terrain where even a few

4:02

seconds of warning may not be enough.

4:05

>> We have information from there. Three

4:08

active cats the area active cats.

4:15

>> Adam copy. Did you hear that?

4:17

>> Three cats. Three active counts.

4:20

>> Cool.

4:20

>> According to the US Fish and Wildlife

4:23

Service, anyone who encounters a

4:24

mountain lion should make themselves

4:26

appear larger and more aggressive. That

4:28

means opening a jacket, raising both

4:30

arms, and throwing rocks, branches, or

4:33

anything within reach without turning

4:35

away. But given the deputy's

4:37

observations, it's likely the victim had

4:39

little time to react.

4:41

>> So, it looks like it jumped from there,

4:44

hit here.

4:47

That's just going to be one big

4:49

>> one step from there.

4:51

>> Pro maybe there

4:54

>> and

4:56

>> right there

4:58

>> and

4:59

>> probably lunged from right here up.

5:01

>> Yep.

5:02

>> I could see that

5:03

>> she was right coming downhill and so it

5:06

spun took her down right there and then

5:11

>> that makes sense. And given her head

5:13

position,

5:15

>> I'm I'm guessing broken neck.

5:17

>> Yeah.

5:18

>> The deputy notes multiple injuries on

5:20

Kristen's body, including a broken nose

5:23

and deep lacerations to her face. There

5:25

are puncture wounds on her neck and

5:27

jawline, where bruising has already

5:29

begun to turn the skin purple. Deputies

5:33

will later inform her parents of the

5:34

devastating loss of their beloved

5:36

daughter. But their first priority is

5:39

hunting and euthanizing the lion that

5:40

took her life. Before they can even

5:43

begin a search, they realize they're

5:45

already being watched.

5:48

>> Park six. I got eyes on the lion

5:51

norththeast

5:52

of the body. It's just beded down.

5:56

Hold up there. Do you see it? Right in

5:58

between the trees.

6:01

>> Where we at?

6:01

>> Straight straight from my arm here.

6:04

Bedded down. Almost looks like a rock.

6:06

>> Okay.

6:09

Victor one park sixies. probably only 20

6:13

30 meters from you.

6:14

>> You're You're 9:00.

6:17

>> Okay. To my right or left?

6:20

>> To your left. You're 9:00.

6:24

>> I've got eyes on 25 m out. Give me code

6:27

zero traffic. I can uh I think I can

6:29

dispatch it.

6:33

>> Yep. See it.

6:36

I got a good shot, too.

6:43

As the gunshot rings out, the cat can be

6:46

seen fleeing through the trees and

6:47

vanishing uphill. They quickly head to

6:50

its hiding space and see no blood or any

6:52

evidence that the shot hit.

6:54

>> Hey guys, and just so we're all on the

6:56

same page, I know we all saw it. That's

6:58

a big cat.

6:59

>> That is not a kitten.

7:01

>> Yes. In regards to shooting the cat, if

7:05

you guys can get a location on it, try

7:07

and hold it per CPW,

7:10

they need to be able to want to shoot

7:11

it. If you need to pres

7:15

need to be tested,

7:17

>> investigators will want to rule out

7:19

whether diseases, particularly rabies,

7:21

played any role in the lion's behavior.

7:25

>> Thanks.

7:27

>> I kept hearing it. I thought I was

7:29

hearing something.

7:30

>> It when you once I saw it, all it was

7:32

doing was staring at you and it it kept

7:34

getting it kept shifting its position to

7:38

watch.

7:38

>> Yeah. And I saw where you were and I'm

7:40

like that thing is close to all of us.

7:43

>> And with us moving around and talking

7:45

and it's still

7:48

about that close.

7:49

>> Yeah, it's probably the biggest one I've

7:51

ever seen.

7:53

Colorado Parks and Wildlife informs the

7:55

deputies that a specialized team trained

7:57

on hunting and euthanizing will be

7:59

arriving shortly. For now, their mission

8:02

is to guard Kristen's body until a team

8:04

can safely extract her. As they stand

8:06

by, they remain on edge.

8:09

>> I think he's been watching us the whole

8:10

dang time.

8:11

>> Yep.

8:12

>> Like, I'm just letting you know that

8:13

thing is still hunting.

8:15

>> The cat does have a death penalty

8:16

coming.

8:19

A team arrives and safely evacuates

8:21

Kristen's body from the mountain by

8:22

helicopter. Her death marks Colorado's

8:25

first fatal mountain lion attack in more

8:27

than 25 years.

8:31

>> I thought for a minute this was a prank

8:32

call just because how the notes started.

8:35

I'm like, this isn't real. Even in the

8:37

dispatch notes, it said mountain lion

8:39

attack.

8:40

Because fatal mountain lion attacks are

8:42

so rare, news of the tragedy begins

8:45

spreading quickly. As social media posts

8:47

and local reports circulate, authorities

8:49

grow concerned that Kristen's family

8:51

will learn of her death before they can

8:53

be notified in person. A deputy and

8:55

chaplain arrive at their home, hoping

8:57

they aren't already too late.

8:59

>> Hi, sir. Deputy with the L County

9:01

Sheriff's Office. Um, you mind if we

9:04

step in and talk to you?

9:05

>> Can we step in for a moment, sir?

9:06

>> Sure. Can I confirm that you're

9:08

Christian's father?

9:10

>> Yeah.

9:10

>> Okay. And and what is your name, sir?

9:13

>> Nobody's in trouble.

9:16

>> Yeah. We're waiting for for our daughter

9:18

to come over for dinner.

9:20

>> Yeah.

9:21

>> Is Kristen okay?

9:23

>> No, sir.

9:25

>> No.

9:26

>> No.

9:30

>> Wait until your wife comes. It

9:34

might be something you may want to take

9:35

a seat for. When Kristine's mother joins

9:38

them, the deputies confirm what her

9:40

father has already begun to fear.

9:44

>> We're grateful to you to inform you that

9:46

the Christian Kristen has has passed

9:49

away. She's she has died.

9:52

Was up in Glenn Haven. They're still

9:55

doing an investigation

9:57

and uh we wanted to come in and and let

10:00

you know as soon as possible so you

10:02

didn't hear by by any other means.

10:07

That's the worst thing we could have

10:10

>> for a new year.

10:12

>> Right. New year. Yes. So sorry to have

10:15

to to bring you this news.

10:17

>> Was it traffic?

10:19

>> No. No. She was out on a run in in uh on

10:23

one of the trails by Glenn Haven.

10:25

>> Someone murdered her.

10:28

>> There's they're continuous

10:30

investigation.

10:31

>> She she was attacked by an animal.

10:36

That's the worst thing ever.

10:38

>> I know.

10:40

>> I can't. Yeah,

10:41

>> she was out running.

10:43

>> Yes.

10:44

>> There's not many high

10:46

>> waiting for

10:49

I'm so sorry.

10:50

>> Deputies are later informed that

10:51

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has

10:53

successfully located and euthanized two

10:55

of the three known mountain lions in the

10:57

area. One had a gunshot wound,

10:59

presumably from the gun earlier fired by

11:02

law enforcement. According to a press

11:04

release from CPW, both lions tested

11:06

negative for rabies, leaving no

11:08

definitive explanation for the attack.

11:11

The cause of death for 46-year-old

11:13

Kristen Marie Kovatch was determined to

11:15

be asphixxia due to external neck

11:17

compression. The manner of death was

11:19

ruled an accident. Her obituary states

11:22

that she passed away while doing what

11:24

she loved most, hiking in the beauty of

11:27

Colorado's public lands. Watch our full

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