Three days after a man allegedly kidnapped his 15-month-old daughter from the Mancos High School graduation, authorities have uncovered no trace of the man or the girl.

John Coleman, 33, of New Orleans, La., is accused of attacking his ex-girlfriend, 26-year-old Jennifer Davis, while she was leaving the graduation ceremonies with her and Coleman’s daughter, Aniston. Davis said that after Coleman knocked her to the ground, he "swooped up" Aniston and fled with her in a dark-colored sport-utility vehicle.

Montezuma County Sheriff’s Det. Steve Harmon said Wednesday that authorities suspect Coleman is driving a green 1993 Nissan Pathfinder with Louisiana license plate "IFK 553." Harmon said investigators have been in contact with law enforcement agencies in Louisiana in case Coleman headed in that direction.

Davis said Wednesday that because Coleman’s sport-utility vehicle has not been located, she believes Coleman may be hiding out in the Southwest Colorado backcountry.

"I believe that he’s probably hiding out in the trees somewhere, because he’s got a lot of experience with that," Davis said. "The baby loves to be outside, and it seems like he was prepared for this, possibly to hide out for a couple of days."

Davis asked people who venture onto rural roads and hiking trails to keep an eye out for anyone resembling Coleman or Aniston. Coleman owns a child’s backpack-carrier and may appear to be an ordinary father out with his daughter, she said.

"She’s a very outgoing little kid and loves to wave at people," Davis said. "She could be very happy. She knows her father, and although she’d be very scared and confused, just being outside makes her happy."

Davis said that she had known Coleman for about 2 1/2 years, but left him about a week ago in Louisiana after suffering physical abuse.

"He didn’t know that I was leaving with (Aniston), but he had just beaten me and I had to go to the safehouse," Davis said, adding that she was on her way to another safehouse when she stopped in Southwest Colorado to attend her half-sister’s graduation in Mancos.

Davis said Coleman, who has military training and experience surviving in the wilderness, has worked as a glass-blower and a cook.

In spite of the lack of leads, Davis said she’s trying to think positively while the search for her daughter continues.

"I’m trying to be optimistic and hoping that she’s not crying all the time," she said.