30 Years Behind Bars: How One Man’s Brutal Murder of 19-Year-Old Dylan Rounds in Rural Utah Shocked a Small Town

Utah Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Murder of Missing Teen Dylan Rounds

James Brenner Sentenced for Killing and Burying 19-Year-Old Dylan Rounds in Utah

A 60-year-old Utah man named James Brenner has been sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in jail for the murder of 19-year-old Dylan Rounds, according to True Crime News. Brenner will spend his time for the two murder offenses that he was found guilty of consecutively. He was also found guilty on two charges of having a firearm in the possession of a restricted individual. Dylan Rounds was last saw on May 26, 2022 following a meal at a Montello, Nevada, restaurant. He returned to his farm in Utah where Brenner also lived and worked. Rounds made a phone call on May 28, 2022 and was not heard from again. His family reported him missing to the Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office. Months after his disappearance the FBI announced that they were investigating the case as a possible crime and identified Brenner as a suspect. He was initially arrested on unrelated federal gun charges.

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30 Years Behind Bars: How One Man’s Brutal Murder of 19-Year-Old Dylan Rounds in Rural Utah Shocked a Small Town (PHOTO: Law & Crime)

Utah Man James Brenner Sentenced for Murder of Teen Dylan Rounds: Case Details and Sentencing Impact

On March 3, 2023 Brenner was arrested in Box Elder County on charges of aggravated murder and abuse or desecration of a corpse. Despite these charges Rounds’ remains had not yet been found. In April 2024 Brenner revealed to law enforcement where he had buried the teen’s body leading to the discovery and positive identification of the remains. In May 2024 Brenner took a plea deal with prosecutors. As part of the deal he disclosed the location of Rounds’ body. Consequently, his aggravated murder charge was reduced to second-degree murder and the charge of desecration of human remains was dismissed. He also pleaded guilty to the firearm charges. During Brenner’s sentencing a family advocate from the Missing in America Network spoke about Dylan Rounds. She described him as a “dreamer, a builder, a visionary,” and said his spirit was “as vibrant and enduring as the sunflowers he loved.”  The judge that was addressing Brenner made it clear that when Brenner is eligible for parole he will recommend to the parole board that Brenner remains in prison for as long as possible.

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