BOISE, Idaho — An eastern Idaho family is mourning the loss of 19-year-old Dylan Rounds, who has been missing in Utah for two years. Earlier this week, officials found his remains in a rural part of Utah.
On Tuesday, East Idaho News reported a man who is charged with murder in the death of Rounds led officials to the burial site of the human remains as part of a plea agreement. Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook the remains belong to Rounds.
East Idaho News reported that Rounds, who was from Rigby, moved to Utah to farm in a rural area near the Utah-Nevada border. In an interview with East Idaho News, his mom, Candice Cooley, said he called his grandmother on May 28, 2022. That was the last time his family heard from him.
“He was going to call her back and nobody heard from him," Cooley told East Idaho News. "That's when, on Monday, we touched base, and nobody heard from Dylan and that's when we headed to the farm."
Search efforts started shortly after that with Box Elder County and the FBI leading the investigation.
"A couple of officers came out and that's when an hour or hour and half, that's when his boots were found behind the dirt pile,” Cooley said.
Months later, officials interviewed 59-year-old James Brenner who they say had been squatting in a trailer five miles from where Rounds was staying. Cooley said Rounds and Brenner knew each other.
"He'd work for him off and on. They were acquaintances, yeah, acquaintances more than friends,” Cooley said.
In June 2022, a search warrant was issued on Brenner’s trailer. Box Elder County Sherriff's Office said they found Muzzleloader firearms. Brenner was sentenced to 33 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to a probable cause statement obtained by NBC News, the boot found in the initial search had blood on it. The blood matched DNA from both Rounds and Brenner. They also found a phone that last pinged at ‘Lucin Pod’ near the trailer. On the phone, they found a video showing Brenner with blood stains on his arm and shirt as he was cleaning a gun.
In March 2023, Brenner was charged with aggravated murder and abuse or desecration of a human body in connection to Rounds' death.
“This is a win for everyone who has helped us. This is a win for all of us,” Cooley said.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.