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So, a murder? >> There there's there are continuous tracks. >> She She was attacked by an animal. >> [laughter] >> That's the worst thing ever. >> 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 Crozier Mountain area alerted local authorities after witnessing a mountain lion dragging a woman's body off the trail. >> Hello. >> How you doing? >> Good. Okay. >> This is two RPs. >> Call man. >> And so, where she at? >> So, she So, she's right there on the trail up there. >> About 100 yd. >> So, we were walking and I looked up and I thought it was somebody's dog. And then I thought, that's weird. But then I saw there was a large woman on the trail. >> He's a physician. He checked signs of life. She was cold. >> Yeah, she She was cold. >> You are a physician. Okay. >> The woman is later identified as 46-year-old Krystyna Marie Kovac, an ultramarathon 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 Krystyna'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, it was He was trying to drag her away. >> Okay. Um have you seen which direction the cat went? >> Yeah, went east. Southeast. >> He hung around. They didn't go away. They >> It It's probably still going to be in the area. So, um >> [snorts] >> We were a little creeped out, big time. We were like making a lot of noise and like that thing is not leaving. >> 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. >> It attacked one person, it could attack another one. Doesn't usually mean good things about the health of the cat. I'm 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 to 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. >> Hey. >> It sounded like birds. >> 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 they It almost sounds like birds around you. If you think it's birds, more than likely cat. >> That's why I just perked up. >> Yeah. >> Capable of sprinting up to 50 mph, a mountain lion can cover the length of a football field in about 5 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. >> Adam found copy out. >> Did you hear that? >> Three cats? >> Three mountain cats. >> Cool. >> According to the US 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 deputies' observations, it's likely the victim had little time to react. >> So, it looks like it jumped from there, hit here. >> [snorts] >> That's There's going to be one big single step from there. Probably maybe there. And [snorts] right there. And lunge. Probably lunged from right here up. >> Yep. >> I could see that. Yeah. >> right coming downhill, and so it spun, took her down right there, and then >> That makes sense. >> And given her head position, I'm I'm guessing broken neck. >> Yeah. >> A deputy notes multiple injuries on Kristin'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. >> Park 6, I got it. Eyes on the lion. North east of the body. It's just bedded down. >> [clears throat] >> Hold up there. >> You see it right in between the trees? >> Where we at? >> Straight Straight from my arm here. It's bedded down. Almost looks like a rock. >> Okay. >> Victor one, Park six. He's probably only 20 30 m from you. >> You're not >> Your 9:00. >> Okay, to my right or left? >> [clears throat] >> To your left, your 9:00. >> I've got eyes on. 25 m out. Give me code zero traffic. I can I think I can dispatch it. >> Betted down here? >> Yep, see it. >> I got a good shot too. >> 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. >> Hey guys, and just so we're all on the same page, I know we all saw it. That's a big cat. That is not a kitten. >> Yes, in regards to shooting the cat, if you guys can get a location on it, try and hold it. Per CPW, they need to be able to authorize the shoot it. If you need to preserve that that head needs to be tested for >> Investigators will want to rule out whether diseases, particularly rabies, played any role in the lion's behavior. >> Thanks. I kept hearing it. >> I thought I was hearing something. >> It When you Once I saw it, all it was doing was staring at you and it it kept getting it kept shifting its position to watch you. >> Yeah, and I saw where you were and And like, that thing is close to all of us. >> And with us moving around and talking and it's still that [clears throat] close. >> Yeah. It'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. >> Hi sir, I'm Deputy Norris with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. >> Yeah. >> I'm wondering if we step in and talk to you. >> Can you step in for a moment, sir? >> Sure. >> Can I confirm that you're Kristen's father? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And and what is your name, sir? >> No one is in trouble. Yeah, we're waiting for for our daughter to come home for dinner. >> Yeah. Is Kristen okay? >> No, sir. No? >> No. Is that your Wait until your wife comes, please. >> [snorts] >> I'll be right back. You may as well take a seat, both of you. >> When Kristin's mother joins them, the deputies confirm what her father has already begun to fear. >> We regretful here to inform you that your Christian Christian has has passed away. She's She has died. We was up in Glen Haven. We was still doing an investigation. And we we wanted to come and and and let you know as soon as possible so you can hear. By by any other means. >> That's the worst thing we could have. >> Right in the New Year. >> Right in the New Year. >> Yes. So sorry to have to to bring you this news. >> Was it a traffic accident? >> No. No, she was out on a run in in on one of the trails by Glen Haven. >> Someone murdered her? >> There there's there are continuing >> [laughter] >> investigations. >> She She was attacked by an animal. >> That's the worst thing ever. Oh, my god. >> I can't Yeah. >> Yeah. >> She was out running. >> Yes. And no many high altitude >> waiting for her for dinner. >> Yeah. Yeah, I'm so sorry. >> 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 lions tested negative for rabies, leaving no definitive explanation for the attack. The cause of death for 46-year-old Kristin 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. Watch our full videos as they were originally made with no randomly muted words or details cut. We've also dropped brand new Ewe videos available only on Ewe Plus. 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