Box Elder County, Utah – Dylan Rounds, a Utah teenager, had his cause of death disclosed in court as the man accused of his disappearance and demise in 2022 pleaded guilty to murder charges. James Brenner, the alleged “killer squatter,” admitted his guilt to a felony murder charge and two counts of firearm possession during a hearing at Utah’s First District Court. The revelation in court pointed to Rounds dying from a gunshot wound to the head.
As part of a plea agreement, Brenner’s initial first-degree aggravated murder charge was lessened to second-degree murder, with a separate charge of desecration of human remains being dropped. An unrelated aggravated assault charge against Brenner was also dismissed. The plea deal also dictated that the sentences for each charge must be served consecutively, with mandatory prison time.
At the time of his disappearance, Rounds was last seen on May 28, 2022, near the property where Brenner had been squatting in a trailer. The investigation into Rounds’ disappearance led authorities to find his missing grain truck and a pair of bloody boots. DNA analysis linked Rounds to the shoes, while county officials and the FBI discovered illegal guns on Brenner’s premises.
Further evidence against Brenner emerged from Rounds’ phone records, which placed him near a pond in Lucin, with incriminating time-lapse footage showing Brenner cleaning a weapon with bloodstains on his arms and shirt. Under the plea agreement, Brenner was required to disclose the location of Rounds’ body, leading to the recovery of presumed skeletal remains in a remote area of Box Elder County.
Despite the closure the guilty plea might bring, Rounds’ family lamented the leniency of Utah’s sentencing laws for murder convictions. They expressed relief at being able to finally bring Dylan home and close this painful chapter. County Attorney Stephen Hadfield praised the extensive efforts of law enforcement in solving the case, while Prosecutor Blair Wardle collaborated with the family to structure the plea deal.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 1, where Brenner faces repercussions for his actions. The guilty plea may offer some solace to the grieving family, who continue to seek justice for their lost loved one. The outcome of the case serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous investigation and prosecution in delivering closure to victims and their families.