Authorities found several “items of interest” during a Saturday search for clues connected to the death of Dylan Redwine, a teen who went missing in November 2012 north of Vallecito Reservoir.
La Plata County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dan Bender told The Durango Herald on Saturday afternoon that several items were found before noon, but he said he could not disclose specifics about the items, including how many were found.
“We don’t know if they’re related to the case,” Bender said.
Forty personnel were involved in Saturday’s search along a stretch of Middle Mountain Road, where remains of the 13-year-old’s body were identified in June 2013.
The search comes just weeks after the Sheriff’s Office announced that Mark Redwine, the teen’s father, is a “person of interest” in the case, which means he is involved in the investigation but is not a suspect, has not been arrested or formally accused of a crime. Evidence and inconsistent statements led to this development, authorities said. Dylan was in La Plata County for a court-ordered visitation with his father for Thanksgiving at the time of his disappearance.
Bender said a wet season prompted Saturday’s search.
“There was a lot of rain and heavy thunder this summer, and with that movement of the soil and vegetation, we thought it would be prudent to go back out,” he said.
Searchers included police from all over the region including, Cortez, Denver, Boulder, Aurora and Telluride, as well as San Juan County deputies and a search and rescue team. A K-9 dog was also used, Bender said.
The search began at 7 a.m. and lasted through the afternoon. Depending on how far authorities got Saturday, efforts may continue into Sunday. The search area is heavily forested and also includes deep canyons. Elevation ranges from 8,000 to 11,000 feet.
jpace@durangoherald.com
