NewsCrime and Courts

Actions

Details of assaults on Missoula trail released in court documents

m assdault.jpg
M assault2.jpg
Posted at 12:42 PM, Apr 13, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-13 22:30:49-04

MISSOULA — We are learning more about a pair of Friday assaults that happened on a popular Missoula hiking trail.

Jared Robert Kuntz is facing four felony counts for two separate incidents that happened on Friday at the M trail on the University of Montana campus.

According to court documents, police responded to the reports of an accident or assault on the trail at about 2:30 p.m.

When they arrived the son of the first victim told officers that he and his mom were hiking when he heard her scream.

He then hiked a little way up to get a clear look and saw a 30 to 40-year-old male with blood on his hands standing over his mom.

The 13-year-old then proceeded to sprint down the trail to find help.

M assault2.jpg
A series of assaults shut down Missoula's popular M Trail on Friday and sent two people to the hospital.

About two hours later police responded to the trail again for the report of a naked male who had assaulted two hikers.

The two hikers, who are brothers, told police that while they were hiking down the mountain, they observed a naked male in the bushes who asked the two for clothes.

They were both aware of the earlier incident and thought this could be the suspect, but before they could react Kuntz charged both with a rock.

After being assaulted by Kuntz, one of the two brothers drew a buck knife he had been carrying and stabbed Kuntz twice. Kuntz continued to chase the two until he eventually began to slow down.

Law enforcement apprehended Kuntz who is facing two charges of aggravated assault, assault on a minor and assault with a weapon.