POLICE PROBING DISCREPANCIES IN STORY OF BOY LOST IN WOODS

Police are investigating discrepancies in the story of a 10-year-old boy with Down syndrome who allegedly survived three days in the woods with the help of stray dogs.

Barry County Prosecutor David Cole has questioned several aspects of Josh Carlisle's ordeal, such as why he got frostbite only on his toes after being subjected to subzero weather each night and why his stepfather didn't return immediately from work in North Carolina when he heard he was missing.Josh was reported missing by his mother March 6. He was found 70 hours later in a dry river bed by a Springfield man on a horse who had joined hundreds of other volunteers.

Two strays were credited with saving him by keeping him warm.

Josh's parents, who have reached a deal with a movie producer for rights to the story, were outraged Friday by the investigation and accused Cole of making a ploy for publicity.

"It's unbelievable, the rumors," Josh's mother, Johnny Coffey, said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press from their home in Cassville, 50 miles southwest of Springfield. "I think the prosecuting attorney here in Barry County is just trying to get his name in the paper."

Cole did not return several calls from the AP for comment.

Barry County Sheriff Ralph Hendrix, who organized the search for Josh and interviewed Josh's family extensively during the days he was missing, said he didn't believe there was any foul play.

"I'm confident in (my investigation) as of right now," he said. "It's a miracle that we found him alive."

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which is conducting the investigation, referred questions to Cole's office.

In the interview, the Coffeys addressed the discrepancies Cole cited and disputed any suggestion they were trying to make money off Josh's story.

For starters, Johnny Coffey said, Josh's injuries were more extensive than frostbite.

"That was not all," she said. "We didn't feel it was anybody's business. The doctors' report does show a severe rash around Joshua's private parts. Now does the public want to know that?"

Josh's lips were swollen, and there were signs of long-term exposure to the sun, his mother said. He moved his legs with great difficulty and pain.

"In our view it was a miracle this child survived," Johnny Coffey said.

She said she told her husband, Lynn Coffey, not to come home from his trucking job right away because about 150 volunteers had shown up at the house, and she was confident Josh would be found. When it became clear that wasn't the case, Coffey changed his plans.

"He was going through hell trying to get home," Johnny Coffey said.