\u201cThat designation was based on evidence collected, inconsistent statements made by Mark Redwine and his behavior throughout the investigation,\u201d sheriff\u2019s office spokesman Dan Bender said in a news release Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The case began with Dylan\u2019s disappearance in November 2012 during a court-ordered visitation with his father for Thanksgiving, and it led to the discovery of some of his remains in June 2013. It has garnered national media attention and inspired a massive social-media presence, much of it accusing Mark Redwine of his son\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s office also said that as part of its investigation, Dylan\u2019s mother, Elaine Hall, brother, Cory Redwine, and Hall\u2019s husband, Mike Hall, have been cleared of any involvement in Dylan\u2019s disappearance and death. Neither Elaine Hall or Mark Redwine could be reached for comment.<\/p>\n
Dylan\u2019s partial remains were discovered on Middle Mountain near his father\u2019s Vallecito home. The sheriff\u2019s office is planning another search of the area in early to mid-September, Bender said.<\/p>\n
Bender said he was unable to give any information beyond what was included in the news release issued Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s office also announced Wednesday that the coroner is reclassifying Dylan\u2019s manner of death to homicide, after it was previously listed as undetermined.<\/p>\n
La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith declined to comment about amending Dylan\u2019s death certificate, citing the pending investigation.<\/p>\n
Person of interest is a term law enforcement uses to describe someone involved in a criminal investigation who has not been arrested or formally accused of a crime. It does not mean Mark Redwine will be arrested or prosecuted for his son\u2019s death. Prosecutions are a responsibility that falls on 6th Judicial District Attorney Todd Risberg\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe case and the investigation are still open at the sheriff\u2019s office,\u201d said Assistant District Attorney Christian Champaign. \u201cIt hasn\u2019t been handed over to us to determine if we can prosecute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denise Hess, one of the community members who helped organize the search for Dylan, said the two announcements are an important step.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a lot of us who have followed this, not just me, but people in the community and even worldwide who felt Mark had something to do with hurting Dylan,\u201d she said, \u201cwe don\u2019t look like we\u2019re just crazily trying to accuse him, but that there\u2019s actually some basis to our opinion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like others, she has questions about what this means.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have not yet named him as a suspect, and we hope that happens sooner rather than later, \u201c she said. \u201cThe bigger step is the change on the death certificate to homicide \u2013 that\u2019s huge.\u201d<\/p>\n
The timing for next steps is uncertain right now, Champaign said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing set,\u201d he said. \u201cNo set time, no set time frame or timeline for this. It\u2019s a very complicated case, and they\u2019re treating it with the utmost top priority. The more investigation they do, the better the case will be.\u201d<\/p>\n
An email Wednesday from the La Plata County Sheriff\u2019s Office reads:
\n \u201cLa Plata County Sheriff\u2019s Office announced Wednesday that the La Plata County Coroner has amended the death certificate for Dylan Redwine from MANNER OF DEATH: Undetermined, to MANNER OF DEATH: Homicide.
\n \u201cThe Sheriff\u2019s Office announced earlier this summer that they had identified a person of interest.
\n \u201cOn Wednesday, they announced that person is Mark Redwine, Dylan Redwine\u2019s father. That designation was based on evidence collected, inconsistent statements made by Mark Redwine, and his behavior throughout the investigation.
\n \u201cThe Sheriff\u2019s Office said that as part of their investigation, Dylan\u2019s mother, Elaine Hall, her son Cory Redwine, and Elaine\u2019s husband, Mike Hall were cleared of any involvement in the disappearance and death of Dylan Redwine.
\n \u201cThe Sheriff\u2019s Office is asking that anyone who might have any information that could help in their investigation of Dylan\u2019s disappearance and death to call their hotline: 970-382-7511.
\n \u201cDylan Redwine went missing after being picked up by his father in November 2012 as part of a court ordered visitation. Remains of Dylan were discovered on Middle Mountain, near Mark Redwine\u2019s home in June 2013. Another search of that area is planned for early or mid September.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n