Police Investigate Discrepancies in Boy’s Survival Story

CASSVILLE, Mo. —  Authorities say some things just don’t add up in the story of a 10-year-old boy with Down syndrome who allegedly survived three days in the woods with two stray dogs’ help.

So Barry County Prosecutor David Cole requested a police investigation after discrepancies began to emerge, a newspaper reported Friday.

Josh Carlisle was reported missing by his mother March 6. He was found 70 hours later in a dry river bed by a volunteer searcher. Two strays were credited with keeping him alive by keeping him warm.

Josh’s parents, who have reached a deal with a movie producer for rights to the story, were outraged by the investigation.

Among the prosecutors’ concerns was that Josh suffered frostbite only on his toes, even though temperatures dipped into the single digits each night he was gone; his rescuer told the newspaper the boy’s underwear did not appear to be soiled; and family members apparently told investigators the dogs brought food to Josh. A spokesman for an online service for vets, said: “That’s just not normal behavior for dogs.”