Dylan Redwine disappeared seven years ago Tuesday in La Plata County, an event that prompted a yearslong investigation that led to the arrest of the boy’s father on suspicion of murder.
Dylan’s disappearance Nov. 19, 2012, and subsequent homicide investigation sparked national attention. The boy, 13, was last seen with his father, Mark Redwine, on surveillance footage at the Durango-La Plata County Airport and at Walmart in Durango.
“It’s kind of surreal,” said Elaine Hatfield-Hall, Dylan’s mother, in an interview Tuesday with The Durango Herald. “Sometimes, it doesn’t feel like it happened.”
Dylan’s last known whereabouts were at his father’s home, 2343 County Road 500, just north of Vallecito Reservoir. His last phone activity or communication was at 9:37 p.m. Nov. 18, 2012, when he sent text messages to a friend about plans to meet up.
Dylan’s friend sent a text at 6:46 the next morning asking, “where are you,” and received no response.
Investigators found the boy’s partial remains in June 2013 about 8 miles up Middle Mountain Road. Hikers found the boy’s skull in November 2015 about 1½ miles up Middle Mountain Road from where the rest of his remains were found.
“I’m sure I’ll never get the truth (about what happened to Dylan),” Hatfield-Hall said. “It’s time that we can settle this and get my son’s remains so I can give him a proper burial.”
Law enforcement arrested Mark Redwine, now 58, in July 2017 in Washington state and accused him of second-degree murder and child abuse. He has been incarcerated ever since at the La Plata County Jail.
Redwine’s trial date has been postponed at least three times in the past year. He is currently scheduled for a four-week trial in April 2020.
Prosecutors point to the father’s and son’s fraught relationship, evidence in which a cadaver dog hit on scents on and around Redwine’s property, and the accused’s familiarity with the area where Dylan’s remains were found. Defense attorneys argue law enforcement does not have direct evidence implicating their client in Dylan’s murder.
Chief District Court Judge Jeffery Wilson said he plans to summon hundreds of residents in the 6th Judicial District in an attempt to find an unbiased jury.
“I’m just grateful for everybody in La Plata County,” Hatfield-Hall said. “It’s been drawn out for seven years. It’s frustrating, it’s heartbreaking, but we just have to keep moving forward. We have no choice.
“... Hopefully one day this nightmare will end for our family.”
bhauff@durangoherald.com
