Lucin, Utah – The cause of death for Utah farm boy Dylan Rounds was disclosed this week as his accused killer, James Brenner, pleaded guilty to murder charges. Brenner, 60, confessed to a felony murder charge and two firearm possession counts linked to Rounds’ disappearance in 2022. The teen went missing on Memorial Day weekend, with his cause of death determined to be a gunshot wound to the head.
During a preliminary hearing in Utah’s First District Court, Brenner’s aggravated murder charge was reduced to second-degree murder as part of a plea deal. The desecration of human remains charge was dropped. Additionally, an unrelated aggravated assault charge against Brenner was dismissed.
Rounds’ disappearance led authorities to Brenner, who was squatting on farmland near the teen’s property in the small desert community of Lucin near the Utah-Nevada border. Law enforcement found a pair of bloody boots during the search for the missing teen, and DNA analysis linked the boots to Rounds.
Investigators discovered Guns on Brenner’s property, leading to his illegal possession arrest due to his criminal history. Furthermore, Rounds’ phone records placed him near a pond in Lucin, where a time-lapse video showed Brenner cleaning his gun with bloodstains on his arms and shirt.
As part of the plea agreement, Brenner disclosed the location of Rounds’ remains. Skeletons suspected to be Rounds were found in a remote area of western Box Elder County. The prosecutor commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and detectives in solving the case, bringing closure to the grieving family.
Rounds’ family expressed relief that the investigation had come full circle, allowing them to bring Dylan home and close this chapter. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 1, with Rounds’ mother criticizing the light sentencing requirements for murder charges in Utah. Hadfield praised the relentless efforts of the individuals involved in bringing the case to a successful conclusion.