I'm sorry for your loss. Seeing your little guy just made me cry. I had a cat I let outdoors disappear near the area in one of the articles you cited. It was only several years later that I figured out a hungry animal probably got him. It stinks!!
Sometimes you don't know you have these kinds of wild animals that can do this until it's too late. I had never seen an animal bigger than a squirrel roaming around my neighborhood before my cat disappeared.
Coyotes are spreading across the U.S., for better or worse.
They're aggressive, cunning and love to eat animals smaller than they are, including small dogs and domestic cats. They also eat lots of other things, including palm tree seeds, tomatoes in gardens, and anything else us humans eat.
If there's coyotes in your 'hood, your outdoor cats are not safe.
I've lost a lot of cats to coyotes. The trouble is, cats often want to go out, and get good at getting around you to do so.
My heart still out to you juntjoo just know eventually the vision of your kitty does leave your mind. I had to remove my cats body from the driveway after my brother ran over his head. My cat fell asleep under the tire. It wasn't pretty but the vision is gone from my mind now.