After years of searching for Dylan Rounds, his convicted killer, James Brenner, finally faced sentencing this week. Brenner confessed to the crime, leading investigators to Rounds’s body, after reaching a plea deal this spring. The case has captivated true crime enthusiasts for years, with its long and winding history.
It all began on May 28th, 2022, when 19-year-old Dylan Rounds was last seen. Rounds’s true passion was farming, and that’s exactly what he was doing before he vanished. He had purchased a farm in Lucin, Utah, near the borders of Idaho and Nevada. At the time, James Brenner was squatting on this property.
Candice Cooley, mother of Dylan Rounds, sits down for an interview following the sentencing of her son's killer.
Brenner’s relationship with Rounds and the Rounds family was more than just a casual acquaintance. Prosecutors highlighted this fact, stating that James Brenner, the man responsible for Dylan’s death, was not a stranger to the family. Dylan had given him work in the middle of nowhere, paying him to work on his farm. The Rounds family knew James Brenner – he had done farm work in Idaho and stayed in a camp on their property. They had shared meals together; they were not strangers.
Despite that relationship, Brenner not only committed the heinous act of taking Dylan away from them, but he also intentionally prolonged their agony for two years. He did this by making them leave the property where Dylan was last seen, by concealing evidence, by attempting to mislead the investigation, by returning evidence, and ultimately, he only came forward with the truth so that he could secure a deal and lessen his sentence.
The last person to hear from Dylan back in 2021 was his grandmother. He had called her to talk about his farming plans for the day, but after that, the calls stopped. The Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office initiated the investigation, naming James Brenner as a suspect in July 2022. However, he wasn’t charged until the spring of 2023.
James Brenner, convicted killer of Dylan Rounds, appears in court for sentencing.
According to a probable cause affidavit, investigators recovered a video from Rounds’s phone that directly led to Brenner’s arrest. Court documents state, “The video showed the defendant with blood stains on his arms and shirt as he was cleaning a gun.” Investigators tested the shirt Brenner was wearing in the video and confirmed the presence of Dylan’s DNA on it.
A plea deal had been in the works for over a year, with Brenner finally entering a guilty plea in May of this year. As part of the plea agreement, Brenner’s charge of aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, was reduced to murder, a second-degree felony. An additional charge of desecration of human remains, a third-degree felony, was dismissed.
A significant condition of the plea deal was that Brenner would lead investigators to Dylan’s remains. During the plea hearing in May, prosecutors detailed the final moments of Dylan’s life.
Dylan Rounds, a young farmer, was murdered in 2021. His killer was sentenced this week.
Nineteen-year-old Dylan Rounds was officially reported missing on May 31st, 2022. Sheriff’s deputies, along with search and rescue teams, made every effort to locate Dylan but were unsuccessful. During their search, deputies discovered a pair of boots belonging to Dylan nearby. One boot had a bloodstain that DNA analysis later confirmed as Dylan’s.
Dylan’s phone records, which showed his movements on the day he disappeared, were obtained. The records led investigators to a remote property in Lucin where the defendant was living. Phone data indicated that the last signal from Dylan’s phone originated from the Lucen pond. A search of the pond led to the discovery of the phone.
A digital forensic download of the phone was conducted, leading to the discovery of a time-lapse video taken at the time of the victim’s disappearance. The video showed the defendant with bloodstains on his arms and shirt as he was cleaning a gun. It was determined that this video was taken on the day Dylan went missing.
Dylan’s remains were finally recovered in the Lucen area, as per the terms of the plea agreement in this case. Forensic analysis revealed bullet holes in Dylan’s skull, confirming that the defendant had shot him in the head.
While Brenner confessed to the murder by pleading guilty, prosecutors maintain that he showed no remorse. Prosecutors expressed frustration and sadness at the lack of remorse shown by Brenner, noting his attempts to shift blame onto the victim. They highlighted his lengthy criminal history, spanning four decades, filled with violent offenses.
Brenner’s defense spoke briefly during the hearing, stating that Brenner wished to bring Dylan home and had fulfilled his end of the plea bargain. However, they mentioned that Brenner had asked them not to engage in the narrative of what transpired and had declined to make a statement to the court.
The prosecution found Brenner’s attempts to paint himself in a favorable light for leading investigators to the body as deeply offensive. They argued that he should not receive credit for a crime he committed and then tried to conceal.
While Brenner opted not to give a statement at the sentencing hearing, Dylan’s father, Justin Rounds, addressed the court, expressing the profound loss the family had suffered and condemning Brenner’s lack of contribution to society. He concluded his statement by expressing his hope that Brenner would spend the rest of his life remembering his actions and finally feeling remorse.
Candice Cooley, Dylan’s mother, chose not to speak but explained her decision, stating that she refused to acknowledge James Brenner or give him the satisfaction of witnessing the pain he had inflicted upon their family. She believed that Brenner was an evil person and that her words would have no impact on him. Instead, she asked the founder of the Missing Americans Network, who had been with the family since the beginning, to make a statement on their behalf.
In a poignant letter read to the court, the founder of the Missing Americans Network spoke about Dylan’s extraordinary character, describing him as a dreamer, builder, and visionary. They highlighted his dedication to transforming a piece of the Utah desert into a thriving farm and his aspirations to create a sanctuary in one of the harshest environments. The letter also criticized law enforcement for their initial lack of urgency and for compounding the family’s suffering by asking them to leave the property where Dylan was last seen.
As multiple individuals shared fond memories of Dylan’s life, they also emphasized the cruelty of Brenner’s actions, stating that he pushed Dylan’s family off the property and interacted with them as if he had no involvement in their son’s murder.
One prosecutor made a request during the proceedings, asking that Brenner be made to turn and look at those who had come to support Dylan. Brenner’s attorney objected, arguing that such a request was inappropriate and akin to putting someone in the stocks. However, Judge Brandon Maynard overruled the defense’s objection and asked Brenner to face Rounds’s family.
Brenner’s refusal to look at Dylan’s family was interpreted as a testament to his lack of remorse. His cold demeanor throughout the proceedings further cemented the perception of him as a callous and unrepentant individual.
Prosecutors expressed their disgust at Brenner’s attempts to rationalize his actions and blame the victim. They emphasized that shooting someone twice in the head with two different guns could not be construed as self-defense and constituted an execution.
Judge Maynard, acknowledging Brenner’s lack of remorse and refusal to address Dylan’s family, noted that this behavior mirrored his conduct over the past few years. He condemned Brenner’s audacity in interacting with the Rounds family while knowing the truth about Dylan’s fate.
Although Judge Maynard acknowledged that his hands were tied due to the plea deal, preventing him from imposing a longer sentence than one to 15 years on each count, he made it clear that he intended to recommend to the parole board that Brenner be kept incarcerated for as long as legally possible.
Cooley expressed relief at Judge Maynard’s statement, feeling confident that Brenner would never be released with such a strong recommendation from the judge. She also shared that she had written a letter to the parole board, urging them to consider the potential danger Brenner posed to their community if released.
In his closing remarks, Judge Maynard addressed Dylan’s family, acknowledging their loss and expressing his regret that he couldn’t do more within the confines of the plea deal. He then sentenced Brenner to serve one to 15 years on each of the two second-degree felony counts, to be served consecutively.
Although the sentence does not bring Dylan back, it offers a small measure of justice and ensures that Brenner will be held accountable for his actions. Dylan’s legacy will live on through the Dylan’s Legacy Foundation, which works to support families of missing persons and promote awareness.
