Cops Realize Killer Mountain Lion Is Hunting Them Too

That's a big cat.

That is not a kitten.

Deputies head into the Colorado wilderness after a mountain lion fatally attacks a woman on a remote hiking trail.But the recovery mission becomes far more dangerous when they realize the predator isn't ready to leave its kill behind.

I think he's been watching us the whole dang time.Yep.Like, I'm just letting you know that thing is still hunting.The cat does have a death penalty coming.

The following is based on official police records released to date, and the footage has never been seen before until now.On New Year's Day 2026, two hikers in the Crozer Mountain area alerted local authorities after witnessing a mountain lion dragging a woman's body off the trail.

Hello.How are we doing?Good, okay.This is the QRPs on there, and so The woman is later identified as 46 -year -old Kristen Marie Kovach, an ultra marathon runner, avid hiker, and certified medical assistant.

As a physician, the witness was able to call her time of death at 12 .40 p .m.But bringing Kristen's body down from the mountain won't be easy, and there are many dangers still lurking.

And you guys said you could still see the cat.

Yeah, he was trying to drag her away.

Okay, have you seen which direction the cat went?

East.Southeast.They hung around her, didn't go away.

Also known as cougars or pumas, mountain lions are elusive predators and generally avoid people whenever possible, but they're also known to return to their kills over the course of several days to feed.so the lion's lingering presence is not unexpected.For deputies still hiking to the scene, this only raises the stakes.

If it attacked one person, it could attack another one.Doesn't usually mean good things about the health of the cat.I'm just going to guess that this cat bedded down somewhere within a mile of this.Yeah.Just like, unless it's rabid.If it's rabid, then who knows?

I mean, the nice thing is that these are thin trees.Like, these are not prime trees that a cat would want to be up in, I don't think.

Mountain lions often hunt by stealth, using trees, brush, or higher ground to ambush their prey.With civilians still on the trail and the lion's location unknown, a helicopter is called in to evacuate them and other hikers to safety.But as first responders remain at the scene and wait for more backup, a sudden noise leaves them on high alert.

Have you heard a mountain lion scream?Oh, yeah.But have you heard a mountain lion call scream?

I've heard them call for their young.My analogy is it almost sounds like birds around you.If you think of birds, more likely a cat.

That's why I just perked up.

Capable of sprinting up to 50 miles per hour, a mountain lion can cover the length of a football field.in about five seconds.And as deputies move deeper into the trail to observe the body, they're now entering terrain where even a few seconds of warning may not be enough.

And information from EOW, there are about three active cats in the area.

Three cats?

Yeah.

Cool.According to the U .S.Fish and Wildlife Service, anyone who encounters a mountain lion should make themselves appear larger and more aggressive.That means opening a jacket, raising both arms, and throwing rocks, branches, or anything within reach without turning away.

But given the deputy's observations, it's likely the victim had little time to react.

The deputy notes multiple injuries on Kristen's body, including a broken nose and deep lacerations to her face.There are puncture wounds on her neck and jawline, where bruising has already begun to turn the skin purple.Deputies will later inform her parents of the devastating loss of their beloved daughter, but their first priority is hunting and euthanizing the lion that took her life.Before they can even begin a search, they realize they're already being watched.

Part six, I got eyes on the lion, northeast of the body.It's just bedded down.

Hold up there.You see it right in between the trees?

Where are we at?Straight from my arm here, bedded down, almost looks like a rock.Okay.Victor one, part six, he's probably only 20, 30 meters from you.

You're nine o 'clock.

Okay, to my right or left?

To your left, you're nine o 'clock.

I've got eyes on.

As the gunshot rings out, the cat can be seen fleeing through the trees and vanishing uphill.They quickly head to its hiding space and see no blood or any evidence that the shot hit.

If you need to prove it, you need to retest it.

Investigators will want to rule out whether diseases, particularly rabies, played any role in the lion's behavior.

Thanks.I thought I was hearing something.

When you, once I saw it, all it was doing was staring at you and it kept getting, it kept shifting its position to watch you.

Yeah, and I saw where you were and I'm like, that thing is close to all of us.

Yeah.

That's probably the biggest one I've ever seen.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife informs the deputies that a specialized team trained on hunting and euthanizing will be arriving shortly.For now, their mission is to guard Kristen's body until a team can safely extract her.As they stand by, they remain on edge.

I think he's been watching us the whole dang time.Yep.Like, I'm just letting you know that thing is still hunting.The cat does have a death penalty coming.

A team arrives and safely evacuates Kristen's body from the mountain by helicopter.Her death marks Colorado's first fatal mountain lion attack in more than 25 years.

I thought for a minute this was a prank call, just because how the notes started.I'm like, this isn't real.Even in the dispatch notes it said mountain lion attack, question mark.

Because fatal mountain lion attacks are so rare, News of the tragedy begins spreading quickly.As social media posts and local reports circulate, authorities grow concerned that Kristen's family will learn of her death before they can be notified in person.A deputy and chaplain arrive at their home, hoping they aren't already too late.When Kristen's mother joins them, the deputies confirm what has happened.father has already begun to fear.

That's the worst thing we could have.Hallelujah.Hallelujah.Yes.So sorry to have to bring you this news.

Was there traffic out there?

No, no.She was out on the run on one of the trails by Glen Haven.Someone murdered her?They're continuing their investigation.She was attacked by an animal.That's the worst thing ever.

She was out running.Yes.

Deputies are later informed that Colorado Parks and Wildlife has successfully located and euthanized two of the three known mountain lions in the area.One had a gunshot wound, presumably from the gun earlier fired by law enforcement.According to a press release from CPW, both Lyons tested negative for rabies, leaving no definitive explanation for the attack.The cause of death for 46 -year -old Kristen Marie Kovach was determined to be asphyxia due to external neck compression.The manner of death was ruled an accident.Her obituary states that she passed away while doing what she loved most, hiking in the beauty of Colorado's public lands.

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