A new search for evidence in the death of Dylan Redwine, the 13-year-old boy who went missing in November 2012 north of Vallecito Reservoir, is planned next week for a section of Middle Mountain.
The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office has done a number of searches during the past three years on Middle Mountain, and next week’s search is one more in what is considered an ongoing investigation, said Dan Bender, spokesman with the Sheriff’s Office.
“Each time we have a change of seasons, that allows us to go into that area,” Bender said. “... We’re going to be checking in areas that we haven’t been in in the past.”
The closure from July 6 to July 11 is near the top of Middle Mountain Road (Forest Road No. 724), from about 0.75 miles before Cave Basin Trailhead. The closure will block access to Cave Basin Trailhead and Tuckerville. And Runlett Park Trail will be closed from Runlett Park to two miles south of Middle Mountain Road.
“Most of Middle Mountain Road will continue to be open during the searches,” Bender said. “It’s just the last couple of miles near the top that is affected by the closure.”
The Sheriff’s Office found some of Dylan’s remains in June 2013 in the area.
Dylan went missing while on a court-ordered Thanksgiving week visit with his father, Mark Redwine, who has a home north of Vallecito.
Last year, the Sheriff’s Office identified Mark Redwine as a person of interest in the boy’s death. That determination was based on “evidence collected, inconsistent statements and his behavior throughout the investigation,” Bender said.
Some residents have questioned why it has taken investigators so long to solve the crime, Bender said. He compared it to a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, saying they are slowly piecing it together to have a complete picture.
“The investigation into the homicide of Dylan Redwine has never ceased,” he said. “As we conduct our investigation and additional information is gathered, that directs us toward our next steps in the investigation, and this is just one more step in the investigation.”
shane@durangoherald.com
