The murder of Dylan Redwine is one of the most tragic and complex criminal cases in Colorado’s recent history. It captivated national attention due to its deep emotional resonance, twisted family dynamics, and the long, arduous pursuit of justice. 

Strained Relationship

Dylan Redwine was a 13-year-old boy from Colorado, born to parents Mark Redwine and Elaine Hall. After a bitter divorce, Dylan and his older brother split time between their parents’ homes. Dylan lived primarily with his mother, but the court mandated that he spend time with his father, Mark, despite their often strained relationship. By all accounts, Dylan was a typical teenager — energetic, fun-loving, and close to his friends and family, especially his mother. However, his relationship with his father was not as strong, and several reports suggested that Dylan felt uneasy around him.

In November 2012, during a court-ordered Thanksgiving visit to his father’s house, Dylan disappeared under suspicious circumstances. Dylan had flown to Durango to stay with his father for a few days, but on November 19, 2012, he vanished. Mark told authorities that he had gone out to run errands early that morning and when he returned, Dylan was gone. He claimed to have assumed that Dylan had gone to visit friends in the area. However, when hours passed and there was no word from Dylan, his family grew concerned, and a missing person investigation was launched.

As the search for Dylan intensified, Mark Redwine’s behavior began to raise suspicions. Elaine Hall, Dylan’s mother, publicly stated that she believed her ex-husband was involved in their son’s disappearance. She pointed to their tumultuous relationship, Dylan’s unwillingness to visit his father, and Mark’s strange demeanor in the days following Dylan’s disappearance. His behavior continued to arouse suspicion when, in February of 2013, Hall and Redwine appeared on the Dr. Phil show where Mark refused to take a lie detector test. Despite extensive searches, including efforts by law enforcement and volunteers, no trace of Dylan was found for months.

Remains Found

Then, in June 2013, seven months after Dylan’s disappearance, partial remains were found in the rugged wilderness about eight miles from Mark Redwine’s home. The discovery was a devastating blow to Dylan’s family and the community, but it provided a crucial lead in the case. Forensic experts confirmed that the remains were Dylan’s, but the mystery of how he died remained unresolved. Investigators turned their attention to Mark Redwine.

As the investigation unfolded, one of the most damning pieces of evidence came to light: Dylan’s older brother revealed that Dylan had discovered disturbing and compromising photos of their father. The images reportedly showed Mark Redwine in a sexually explicit and degrading situation. According to Dylan’s brother, Dylan had confronted their father about the photos, which strained their already fragile relationship. Investigators believed that Dylan may have threatened to expose Mark Redwine, leading to a violent confrontation that resulted in Dylan’s death.

For years, the case stalled due to the circumstantial nature of the evidence. Investigators were convinced that Mark Redwine had killed his son, but proving it in court would require more substantial evidence. During this time, Mark Redwine maintained his innocence, often appearing in the media to claim that Dylan had been taken by someone else or had run away.

However, forensic evidence began to mount. Blood was found in various locations within Mark Redwine’s home, and cadaver dogs alerted to the scent of human remains in both his house and truck. Though the remains found in 2013 were incomplete, additional fragments of Dylan’s skull were discovered in 2015, further suggesting foul play. These discoveries, coupled with Mark’s inconsistent statements and erratic behavior, finally led to his arrest in 2017. He was charged with second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.

The Trial

Mark Redwine’s trial was delayed several times, largely due to the complexities of the case and the COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn’t until 2021, nearly nine years after Dylan’s death, that the jury came back with a decision. 

In July 2021, Mark Redwine was found guilty of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death. Despite his insistence that he is innocent, he was sentenced to 48 years in prison, bringing some measure of justice to Dylan’s family. In November of 2021, Mark Redwine’s attorneys filed their notice to appeal the conviction.