After extensive efforts by numerous volunteers equipped with advanced technology, the remains of 19-year-old Dylan Rounds were unearthed this week in the western Utah desert.
“It’s akin to finding a needle in a haystack within such a vast desert,” remarked Chief Deputy Sheriff Cade Palmer.
Hailing from Idaho, Rounds had relocated to Lucin with aspirations to farm but went missing during Memorial Day Weekend 2022.
His property was located a staggering 150 miles away from the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office in Brigham City.
“Each expedition to the area was a logistical challenge. There were no amenities – no gas stations, no food,” Palmer explained.
With assistance from the FBI, human remains believed to be those of Rounds were discovered on Tuesday in a remote locale. By Wednesday evening, the state medical examiner’s office had confirmed the identity.
“It consumed our thoughts daily – how to locate Dylan, what resources to employ. It was all-consuming,” expressed Rounds’ mother, Candice Cooley.
James Brenner, aged 60 and charged with Rounds’ alleged murder, has been in police custody since the summer of 2022. Cooley disclosed that Brenner disclosed the location of Rounds’ remains as part of a plea agreement, although this has not been confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
“Our primary objective was to bring Dylan home,” Cooley emphasized. “We had reiterated numerous times that we didn’t want to negotiate, but ultimately, bringing Dylan back and moving forward was paramount.”
Publicly, the Rounds-Cooley family has expressed dissatisfaction with law enforcement’s management of the case, claiming insufficient awareness efforts regarding Rounds’ disappearance.
“We don’t have a specialized unit for missing persons,” countered Palmer. “Our detectives and search and rescue teams respond to reports of missing individuals and undertake efforts to locate them.”
Cooley is collaborating with Utah legislators and victims’ rights organizations to prevent other families from enduring similar anguish.
“It’s about holding individuals accountable for their actions and rectifying mishandled situations,” she asserted. “Through education and awareness, change can be fostered, potentially preventing tragedies like the loss of our son.”
Palmer estimated that the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office would require approximately a week to confirm the identity of the remains.
Brenner’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 16, though this could be subject to change following Tuesday’s discovery.
Cooley cautioned the public about potential fraudulent fundraisers purporting to raise funds for Rounds’ funeral expenses. The family has no intention of soliciting donations, and any online fundraising efforts are not endorsed by them.
