Secret Killer Leads Cops Into His Murder Shed

He He was in a hurry and cuz I guess it. was raining, he wanted to get this. undercover. >> So you weren't here when Dylan came down. here. >> He's a friend of mine. >> Sure. You don't get rid of friends. >> This is Jim Brener, a farmer living in. the remote Utah desert. Police don't. know it yet, but he's showing them the. exact building where a missing teenager. was murdered just days earlier. 19-year-old Dylan Rounds had left his.

family to go work on his farm. But after. being spotted buying supplies at a local. shop, he would vanish without a trace. Strangely, no one in the small, quiet. town seemed surprised. Apparently, this. was not uncommon. >> I told that kid, "Stay the hell out of. Montello.". >> That whole town just It's a crazy place. Some other guy pointed a gun in my. freaking face. >> As days stretched into weeks, detectives.

chased a mounting list of suspects. Thieves, violent criminals, [music]. drug dealers. Yet from the very. beginning, the truth was there, hidden. in plain sight by someone nobody [music]. suspected. It all began on a quiet evening when. police received calls from a concerned.

family member reporting their son Dylan. Rounds missing from his farm in Utah. They hadn't heard from him in over 2. days. And when they went to his property. to check, there was no sign of him. anywhere. A deputy was dispatched to. Dylan's farm to meet with his family. But on his way there, he was stopped by. a neighbor of Dylan claiming he might. know what happened to him. >> He's been he's been hanging out over. that bar in Montello. And I could give. you some names of some scumbags over. there, but he's been shooting his mouth.

off about how much money he's making. And there's one guy, Chase Vra Ventra. He's over there and he can do anything. he wants. He's been robbing, stealing, everything. Hill County Sheriff won't do. anything about it. And if you talk to. his mother, she knows more about it, but. he ran into Chase on the Tacoma Road the. other day. And Chase kind of scared him. a little bit. >> What's your [music] last name again, Jim? >> Brener. Jim Brener. Well, I'll let you. get down there before they disturb the. crime scene. >> Okay, thank you. >> As the conversation ended, Jim Brener's.

strange remark about a crime scene left. the deputy curious since no crime was. yet confirmed. It was an unsettling. comment that would soon become a. disturbing reality. >> Milk something. good. >> For now though, the deputy took note of. this information and continued towards. Dylan's farm to speak with his family.

>> No guns in there. >> No guns in there. Like he said, he. carries a He has a 40 that he puts in. the door right side. >> Did you just pop the back window? >> I broke it out. >> At first glance, Dylan's red Ford truck. appeared oddly abandoned, bearing signs. of minor damage. But what concerned his. father the most was that Dylan's guns. had mysteriously vanished from the.

trailer. A detail that was strange on. its own. Wanting to learn more about. Dylan, the deputy turned to speak with. his mother, she had her own troubling. information to share about Dylan's. recent runin with a local criminal. >> What does he farm for out here? >> Himself. >> What does he farm for? >> Grain or. >> grain? >> Yeah. >> James stopped me when you guys weren't. around me was talking to me. You said. that uh you knew something about a runin. he had with a guy named Chase. >> Yeah. on Wednesday, but they told me.

that's normal. So, >> I know a lot of the people that he named. from Montello are not good people. I. only know of them from what people say. Dylan's mother confirmed her son had in. fact encountered Chase Venstra recently, the same person Dylan's neighbor had. earlier described as a local thief and. criminal. Given what the deputy learned. so far, it seemed like Dylan might have. unknowingly placed himself in danger. At. just 19, he purchased 640 acres of land.

with his grandfather for an estimated. 200 to $300,000. and built a reputation for his ambitious. dreams of running a huge farm. But. according to his neighbor, Dylan's. confidence may have made him a target, as he often frequented rough local bars. and talked openly about his financial. success. After rehashing some more details with. Dylan's parents, the neighbor Jim. Brainer and his close friend Donald. Hayley arrived to help. Both men knew.

Dylan well. Jim was living in a trailer. near Dylan's farm and occasionally. helped him with chores. And Donald was a. longtime friend of the family and a. supportive mentor to Dylan's farming. ambitions. But unbeknownst to everyone. at the time, both men knew something. more about Dylan's [music]. disappearance. Something they weren't. ready to share yet. >> I did get a ping. Okay. >> Last location was 15.4 miles from the. Voltine Tower, >> which puts him on this back road.

>> So I was walk that hit him walking. >> Okay. That's I I really I know my son. and that's the shortest route to his. camp. If he walked, that road ends right. out here. >> If he walked, he would have come this. corner, cut across this field. >> But that's as close as cell phone peak. Not in town. Not It's out here. >> Mhm. Off of that road, the back road. into the compound. >> Then we go down to where it is. >> Yeah. >> What time was that? Does it tell you?

>> That was at uh or 14:58. >> So right after just before 3:00. >> Right after you left. So he must have. pulled in right behind you. He dropped. off the grain truck and I'm telling you. I I bet you he took off walking. >> How do you get to that road from. >> I. >> So we don't have to go all the way back. to Luc and over. >> No, >> no, I guess. Okay. >> Following this lead, they quickly headed. to the shed area to investigate. That's. when they discovered the first troubling.

sign of foul play. Dylan's boots were. found stained with blood discarded about. 100 yards south of the shed. The deputy. immediately secured the boots to send. them off for DNA testing and called. another deputy to help search the shed. and the surrounding property. However, they had no way of knowing that the. [music] biggest clue they were looking. for was submerged 20 ft deep in a pond. nearby. >> There's just some boots out there that. are they've only been out there for a.

day or two. You didn't see anybody else. around here. >> I left here about 1:30, went over to. Dons, and I was there until about 9:00. at night. And when I come back, that. [music] truck was here. >> It's just one thing after another. [laughter]. And but he's a friend of mine. >> Sure. You don't get rid of friends. [music]. Those two boots out there, they're brand. new. Like they're they've only been out. there. They're they're the same color. leather as your boots and they're the. same ones he wears. So, we're just. curious [music] of why his boots would. be out there. Same size he wears.

They've only been out there probably for. a day or two. >> He might have threw them out there. I. maybe he did. Would he Does he know. that's a dump out there? He does. He's got electronics and [ __ ]. in there. Maybe I don't know cuz like I. say, he was here. >> He hadn't been here. >> Brought the truck here. >> Yeah, that would make sense. >> Based on Jim Briner's timeline, whatever. happened to Dylan likely occurred. between 1:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. The. hours when Jim left the shed to visit.

his friend Donald Hatley. Police quickly. verified Brener's timeline with his. friend Donald, who confirms that they. had dinner together during that time. With Dylan's exact movements still. unclear, deputies requested a helicopter. to scout the area from above, looking. for any trace of Dylan. >> So, who owns this right here? Um, that's. the guy that he is a partner with. This. is where he dropped the grain truck off. Where's this great truck? It's back to. that silver building there. So, the big. one. Yep. Do you want to go up higher, Mike? Or you could please do the nice.

high orbit. You can look at everything. with the camera and then we'll come back. down and see if we see anything with. her. >> After a full sweep of the surrounding. area, no sign of Dylan or any indication. of where he might have gone was found. In the following days, the search. efforts continued and Daniel's [music]. family alongside local volunteers joined. in. But despite their best efforts. combing through the area, they too came. up empty. Attention soon turned to the.

local criminal Chase Venstra. Both. Dylan's mother and his neighbor Jim. mentioned a recent encounter between the. two, making Chase one of the last people. to see Dylan alive. Additionally, Chase. already had a history of violent run-ins. with the law, including a 10-hour armed. standoff with police in 2016 and was. well known in the area for all the wrong. reasons. Luckily for police, Chase had. an active warrant related to domestic.

violence. It was their perfect chance to. bring him in for questioning. But when. officers arrived at the house to arrest. him, Chase was nowhere to be found, potentially already on the run from. police. Officers quickly began searching the. town, asking if anyone had seen Chase. recently. Locals directed them to the. Montello Cowboy Bar, a place known to be. frequented by Chase. Following this. lead, officers headed to check the bar, where they would soon learn that Dylan. and Chase's encounter may have been more.

dangerous than anyone realized. But before we get to that, it's worth. noting that incidents like these are not. only traumatic for those directly. involved, but they can often have the. same effects on you when you face. [music] difficult situations in your own. life. I [snorts] realized I simply. wasn't equipped to manage what I was. feeling on my own and that there are. professionals whose expertise is guiding. people like me towards feeling better. My therapist gave me one simple. assignment. Write down how I felt every. single hour. The patterns quickly became.

clear what made me feel good and what. made me feel bad. Reporting back kept me. disciplined. [music]. Sharing each success made me proud and. the accountability stopped me from. quitting. With those patterns in front. of me, I could finally see what in my. life had to change and how to change it. Today's sponsor, BetterHelp, makes. finding that kind of help simple. Fill. out a brief questionnaire to be matched. with one of 30,000 licensed therapists. And if the first match isn't right, you. can switch anytime at no extra cost. With over 9,000 reviews and a 4.3 rating.

on Trustpilot, BetterHelp is a platform. you can trust. Click the link in the. description or go to. betterhelp.com/drinsanity. and get 10% off your first month of. therapy. With that said, let's get back. to the officers at Montello Cowboy Bar. where a conversation with the locals was. about to reveal how Dylan's encounter. with Chase may have turned violent. >> We're trying to find a kid named Dylan. >> Oh, I know. We got locals out here that. look good, too. Oh, they went out that.

way cuz he was out to loose in. Uh, I. was hearing Kurt say something about he. had a confrontation with that chase. [music] kid. >> Yeah, that's who I'm looking for. Where. do we find him? >> Kind of worried about it because if if. Dylan did walk back from where he left. the grain track and. Chase got a hold of him and vulnerable, you know what I mean? Mhm. >> Walking back, something bad could have. happened because there was a bad injury. with a kid just out here that got his.

face smashed in by the butt of a gun and. his all his the whole camper shell was. all bashed in and stuff. >> Where do we find Chase? >> Is he from here? Does he live here? >> Yeah, he does. He doesn't. He He's from. around here. This is where he hangs out. He was staying out here and he was. >> Where was he staying at? big thief in. town and so everybody was after him and. they finally told him to get the hell. out of town and stayed at. >> came back just here.

>> The bar owner's recap only further. implicated Chase Venstra suggesting that. a violent confrontation between Chase. and Dylan was more likely than ever. But. something else caught the officer's. attention when one of the bar owners. briefly mentioned another recent. incident involving Chase. Sensing there. might be more to this, the officer. decided to pull her aside for a private. conversation. At this point, police. still considered Dylan's case a missing. person. But what the bar owner detailed.

next would soon shift this case to one. of potential homicide. >> Why was uh Chase and him having an. issue? Do you know? So Kurt told me and. I was overhearing part of the. conversation saying that Dylan was just. driving down the road and Chase stopped. him and said, "Hey, got some water." He. was like, "Hey, do you know Kurt?" Da. da. And I guess they got in an. altercation about that cuz um Chase, he's like, "Kurt's an asshole." D. And. Dylan was like, "No, he's not. You know, he's a good guy. I work for, you know,

do work for him." Blah, blah, blah. There's an altercation. Then he went on. his way. And I believe if I'm not. mistaken the conversation that was the. same day that he drove the grader the. the grainer over to wherever he and then. whoever was there couldn't give him a. ride back so he possibly walked. That's. all I know about the conversation. >> How does the kid getting hit with a butt. of a gun? Does that figure into this at. all? >> I can get that. I think there is some. because now we're talking violence. So. kid let his property go and stop making.

payments on his property because he's so. scared. But he woke up to the bunning of. a gun into his face. They smashed his. his camber. >> How old was he? >> I don't know. 30s. >> 30s. >> Has a family, has kids. He's out here. Bought land out here. So, everyone. trying to homestead. >> He's not out here any long. Imagine. >> No. He left. He left to be his property. go was gone. >> With this troubling insight, it became. clear that Chase Venstro was fully. capable of extreme violence. If he. attacked someone else recently, he.

easily could have done the same to. Dylan. But what no one had realized yet. was that police were looking in the. wrong direction the whole time, while. someone far more dangerous and guilty. was hiding right under their noses. The next day, while the search for Chase. continued, Dylan's family reached out to. police. They were conducting their own. investigation and wanted to share new. information they'd uncovered. Information suggesting Chase may not.

have acted alone. So this is this is the. family. Yes. Okay. So tell me again what. you're have suspicion to believe right. now. >> So on 525 is when Dylan ran into chase. with the desert and called in the desert. and called me right after. He had no. shoes on. Dylan wouldn't let him take. his phone or give him a ride, but he did. allow him to call his dad on speaker. phone in Ogden, Utah. >> Okay. >> Dylan allowed Chase. >> Dylan allowed Chase to. And then he gave.

him some coke and his and then his dad. called Dylan back and Dylan sent the pin. from his phone to where Chase was. >> Okay. >> So then we fast forward to 5:28 which. was Saturday. Dylan was heard from in. the morning. He talked to his grandma. and he was going to take the grain truck. to the shed to put it in shelter cuz it. was raining. >> So at this point we assumed he was. walking back across the desert to his. camper. >> cuz he didn't have a ride. >> This is in Milan. >> Yeah. >> Lucen. Yeah.

>> Okay. >> So then 5:29 they continued to look for. him. 5:30 we all got here um to Dylan's. last known location and loops in filed. the police report. Got search and rescue. out. That's the night we found Dylan. boots about 400 y from where his last. known location was. Tossed out behind a. dirt pile just out in the desert. So. then today we kept searching and that's. when these guys got us the information. What about 3:00 today? We know that this. Robert guy took Chase out to the desert.

where Dylan is the day Dylan went. missing. >> The man Dylan's mother mentioned would. turn out to be Robert Ales. He had an. active arrest warrant and reportedly. gave Chase Venstra a ride to Dylan's. place on the day he disappeared. The. family also suspected that Chase could. be at Robert's house, so finding him. became a priority in locating their. prime suspect and hopefully Dylan. himself. Officers quickly moved to track down. Robert Ales and their first stop was.

Robert's residence where they came into. contact with his mother. >> I'm singing in. >> I don't know who that would be. >> Okay. >> I'm sorry. I have no idea. >> He's supposed to be hanging out with a. guy named Chase. >> and Robert. >> And Robert. >> Okay. I don't know. Chase might [music]. have an idea, but my son's been homesick. and he's been in bed all day and he's. been home all night. I don't know. I'm. just wondering.

>> So, who's all in your house? Who? >> Nobody. >> Nobody's in there right now. >> No, my son is in [music] his trailer. >> And where's that at? >> In the backyard. >> In the backyard? >> Yeah. >> Well, we're just trying to We're just. trying to find it. >> No, no one came home with him. So, >> nobody came home with him? >> No. >> Okay. Is Chase here? No, I don't let. Chase on my property after I found him. inside my home when I wasn't home. >> We were We were told that there's. possibly a kidnapping missing kid. >> Oh, being here. Yeah. No, you can feel. free to look around.

>> Hostage situation like he's not being. See, that's why we're here, ma'am. I'm. not about a car. >> Look around if you want to, but there's. nothing here but my son and he's. sleeping. After speaking with Robert's. mother, officers conducted a thorough. search of the property, but found no. sign of Dylan or Chase. But they soon. located Robert inside his trailer, and. he was quickly arrested and transported. [music] to the police station for. questioning. When detectives placed. Robert in the interrogation room, they. expected resistance and lies, but.

instead, Robert didn't hold back. >> So, you said that Chase had taken guns. from somebody. Did he admit to you like. where he got his guns? >> No, this is what I thought he got. arrested for the first time. What he was. in jail for when I came back. I asked. Chase that. I was like, "Hey man, I. heard you got arrested." He's like, "No, that's just all Montello gossip, blah. blah blah blah blah." Right. So, I'm. kind of weary after giving him a ride. I. tried to show um one of my mom's.

friends, been out there in the community. for a long time. He gave me his. scenario. He thinks Chase did it, too. Okay. Now, I don't know the time frames. because I'm not good with time. Like I. told you guys, I did the best I could by. by contacting the store lady and asking. her what day I gave Chase a ride, you. know, cuz I didn't even know what day I. gave Chase a ride. I didn't even know. what day the kid came up missing. I. didn't even know there was a kid missing. until the Nevada. police came knocking on our door wanting. to search our residence. You know what I.

mean? And that's the truth. Although Robert admitted giving Chase. Venstra a ride, he couldn't provide any. clear information on Chase's current. whereabouts and maintained his innocence. throughout the rest of his interview. However, Robert made one thing clear. He. believed Chase was involved and might. have even killed Dylan. The following night, something strange. happened at Dylan's trailer in the Lucen.

Desert. It seemed someone had quietly. returned and tampered with items inside. An officer was quickly sent out to. photograph and document the scene, accompanied by Dylan's father, who'd. share more details about the troubling. discovery. >> Okay. The shotgun is in a house in. Ricky. >> Okay. That is my grandfather's that I. bought and he has a room up there. And. that was the the 40. It's not in here. We looked in his. camper,

didn't find it. Um, no key fob for the. truck. So, when I broke the window, the. alarm went off. We undid the battery. No. key fob. Um, we looked in his camper and all the. cupboards and stuff. Looked in the. bathroom, nothing. My mother came here. She has real bad arthritis. My sister. was here. We're all out surgery. She. used the bathroom. Dylan had flushed to. go see it. It was really nasty. So, my. sister went in and cleaned it. Still no. gun. Later, my son and JD came in and.

the gun was sitting on a sink. It's outside of the bathroom, but right. by the bathroom door where the toilet. and the shower is the sink, but it's not. in the bathroom. The gun was sitting. right there with the with the clip. outside of it. >> Okay. >> Sitting there. So, [snorts] my son and. JD didn't think much of it. They grabbed. the gun, put it in my truck. I didn't. think much of it. Although, they found. the gun. I don't know. Then we started. realizing that it wasn't there when my. sister cleaned the bathroom for my mom. to use and all that and it was there.

>> This discovery was an alarming. indication that someone was actively. trying to cover up their involvement in. Dylan's disappearance. But his father. had one more thing to share. Something. about an old confrontation with someone. police hadn't yet fully considered in. their investigation. What what was. Chase's ties to out here? >> I don't know about Chase. Hardly any. But the whole town knows him. But that. whole town are just It's a crazy place.

>> They're just all like they're all muddy. for one thing. >> The only people that I know of that. really were in contact with Dylan as I. hear the chase guy. I didn't know it, but Don and Jim. Jim was the guy you the. place you guys know. >> Okay. >> Jim came out here and helped. Jim came. to Riby where I live. I live in Rigby. and Idol Falls area. Dylan bought like 800 pigs or something. from the Midwest when the pandemic hit.

Whatever the I brought him to my farm. last piss and. Jim was there and I unleashed on told me. to get the hell out of here. He called D. and told me he's going to blow my head. off. Dylan called me. He got all mad. So. when I found out he's going to blow my. head off, I had to go see. and he's. walking down the lane on the farm with a. big old pistol and my dad calmed him. down and calmed me down. Then he came. back this winter to my shop to work on. that seed truck. Fine. Everything was. fine. And I realized it's Dylan's.

friend. I I'm not going to worry about. this. You know what I mean? I got to. bend Tyson. >> According to Dylan's father, there were. no further escalations after his. confrontation with Jim Briner at the. time. At this point, no one had any real. reason to suspect Jim Brainer or Donald. Hatley. After all, they'd been actively. helping the family, joining search and. rescue efforts, and fully cooperating. with police. However, the confrontation. [music] described by Dylan's father was. serious enough for the officer to take.

note of it. After leaving the scene, he. passed this information to detectives, prompting a deeper look into Jim. Brener's past. And what detectives. uncovered wasn't entirely unexpected. a criminal past, including convictions. for aggravated assaults and multiple. weapons charges, as well as a. pre-existing federal active warrant for. being a restricted person in possession. of a firearm. Brener's violent history. and his close proximity to [music]. Dylan's farm were enough for detectives.

to flag him as a person of interest, alongside their primary suspect, Chase. Vinstra. The following day, officers moved. quickly to serve Brener's arrest warrant. [music] and bring him in for. questioning. They soon spotted him. casually heading back towards the grain. shed with his close friend, Donald. Hatley. >> What could I do for you guys? >> Well, we just had a couple things we. wanted to talk to you about. We're still.

trying to figure stuff out, you know, and um just have you guys heard or seen. anything these days? Anything new? >> This trash over here? >> Yeah. I know names. I know people. I know they. I Nobody seems to want to listen to me. >> I got you. I hear. >> they're the [music] ones coming over. stealing [ __ ]. >> Are they? >> Yeah. Chase Vestra. Chase Vestra and. Robert Ailas are the one that robbed uh. Michael Moore up here.

>> But everybody keeps saying that's done. We need pulling. You need to bust kick. freaking rats over there open. And. people are going to start talking. And. that's the only way you're going to find. out about Dylan. >> There's a warrant for your arrest. I'm. going to let you know about it right. now. >> From Maryland. >> So, we're going to pick you up, take you. to jail with us. >> Oh, god damn it. So, what I want you to. do, I know before you even talk, place. your hands on your head for me. Interlock your fingers. Okay. >> Jim pointing fingers at Robert and Chase.

was understandable given witness. statements and allegations. But Jim's. own criminal past and proximity to Dylan. made him equally suspicious. Detectives. transported him to the police station, planning to use the unrelated warrant. charges as an opportunity to question. him further about Dylan. Though they. didn't expect much new information from. Jim, this routine questioning was about. to lead to an unexpected breakthrough. >> The the warrant is it has been issued.

and we're obligated by law. be found. >> I don't know if you realize this, but. there's other bigger problems going on. over there. >> Not here to talk to you about that. warrant. You just got brought in on that. warrant. >> Okay. >> We would like to talk to you about the. other things that are going on out. there. >> We would respect him. I understand. I. mean, I know him better than you do. I. work for him. >> That's why you're one of the reasons why. I sit. >> Yeah. Cuz I know you know him. Dylan. used to go in the bar and he'd been.

bragging about how much money he was. making. Dylan never carried money on. him. Bought everything with credit card. But if he did have $1 in his wallet, he. wouldn't give it up. And I think this is. a strong armed robbery. Somebody thought. they see this little 5'5 kid. And I. think they figured we're going to get. this guy. We're we're going to rob this. guy. We're going to intimidate him. Dylan, don't intimidate with the strong. armed robbery. Do you believe it? Chase. and Robert a reve? Is there any reason.

anyone say you did it? If I did this, I'd be one six out son of a [ __ ]. >> Well, there's got to be somebody that's. some sick son of a [ __ ] somewhere. What. about Don? I've known Don for over 2. years, and Don's gone out of way to help. Dylan just like I have. As expected, Jim. Brainer's statements remained mostly. consistent, and he appeared genuinely. convinced Chase Venstra and Robert of. Elise had something to do with Dylan's. disappearance. But Briner had more. details to share. Details about Dylan.

himself and the dangerous individuals he. was attracting. >> Another one, Robert Lee just did 10. years in prison for um. strong armed robbery. Lo and behold, about 3 weeks ago, a. fellow from Salt Lake that bought 10. acres of land over in Montello. Two guys. went into into his trailer, beat him up. with a pistol whipped him, robbed him, took his cell phone, and made it so his.

vehicle wouldn't run. He had to walk. into town to call the police. There's a. lot of [ __ ] going on in Montel. >> Is he the one that they talk about being. pistol look with the gun? Is that the. one? Is that somebody different? I I. hate the same person. >> Brener would go on to mention several. other people, mostly convicted criminals. from the area who could have had strong. motives to rob or even kill Dylan. Clearly, he wasn't exactly narrowing. things down for detectives, but at least.

he appeared fully cooperative. However, in just moments, Brener would let. something slip, something that would. unintentionally place him right at the. center of the suspect pool. Dylan is a shy kid. His world revolves. around tractors, farming. I mean, he had. a couple guns that his dad gave him and. he never he had a shotgun that we found. that that's up in Riby. Um, but he. always carried that in the back seat. And the pistol.

he had, they found that and he was. afraid to keep that loaded. He used to. keep the gun in the console and keep a. loaded magazine. And I told him, I said, "Don't either need to learn how to use. that thing or put it somewhere." I said, "That's going to get you killed." And. late for that, [music] but I was telling. his dad that, too. >> Needless to say, Jim's choice of words. wasn't ideal. And this wasn't the first.

time his statements had raised eyebrows, as he'd previously made a similar remark. when Dylan first went missing, [music]. speaking about him as if he was already. dead. Although several days had passed. and the possibility of foul play was. growing, detectives still found his. comments odd. But with the rest of. Briner's interview yielding nothing new, investigators booked him into jail on. his unrelated firearm possession. warrant, giving them time to further. investigate any possible involvement.

Shortly after Jim Brener was taken into. custody, officers finally located Chase. Venstra and arrested him on his. unrelated warrant out of Montana. Detectives wasted no time bringing him. in for questioning. But in this first. interview, Chase flatly denied any. involvement, insisting locals were. spreading false rumors to frame him. With no hard evidence, investigators. booked him into jail, but with a. strategy in mind. They placed him in a.

cell directly above Jim Briner, quietly. hoping they would interact. And at one. point, one of them might talk or slip. up. Pretty quickly, this tactic paid off. when Chase reached out to detectives for. another interview, claiming he knew. exactly what happened to Dylan and could. solve the entire case. >> I came to talk to you. Um, Kevin's. called you. >> She actually didn't call me. Ross called. me and said that you were looking to to. talk about with him talk about Brener.

Was it Brener? And uh just the case. basically, right? >> Yeah. They put me in there. I'm the cell. above Brener. >> I've got to talk to him. I've talked to. other cellmates. I know a lot. >> Okay. >> I know a lot. I can I can put this thing. to best to bed for you. Well, I mean, honestly, to be straightforward with. you, I can't I can't do anything about. the charges. Me myself, right? They're. fed. They got to be federal, right? >> No, they're they're state.

>> I didn't even know that there were any. >> So, I want the charges dropped. I'll. solve this case for you. >> All right. >> I'm not able to do it. So, I just came. and talk to you to see if you had. something you wanted to tell me. >> I got everything to tell you, but when. I'm out of these chains and in my. closing, I can't make that kind of deal. with you. So. >> that's what that's. >> fine if you don't want to. >> That's what I want. >> That's fine. >> I want to do I just want to be left. alone. >> I want like we got an ultrasound on my. new baby tomorrow.

>> I want I want to go be there with her. This is her first baby. >> I'm I'm applying for a job with the. state out there. >> I hope you I'm done with this thing. I've been drugged through the mud with. this thing with Dylan. I know how it. happened, where it happened, >> when I know what what was used and where. it's at. >> Okay. >> I can So, I put this whole thing to bed. for you guys. >> Well, and I I. >> And I hate I hate to. >> I wish you could, but there's not. anything I can offer you. >> I I hate to be that way with you, but I.

got to look out for me. >> Unfortunately for detectives, their. strategy backfired. Now, Chase wanted to. bargain his freedom in exchange for. information he claimed to have. But. investigators had little reason to trust. Chase. and without an agreement to drop. his gun charges, the interview ended. without providing any new leads. On June 28th, exactly a month since.

Dylan went missing, police were called. out after a witness reported finding. something suspicious in the desert. [music] A burial site with clear signs. of something dead inside. >> Oh, I smelled something. Somebody came and opened it. It wasn't. like this. [applause]. This wasn't here either. >> Oh, >> okay. Go ahead and step away. >> Something dead in there.

>> Yeah. >> Yeah. He killed the poor. He killed him. >> Yeah. So, this is the only one that you. found, huh? >> Okay. >> It wasn't like this yesterday, though. Okay. >> Somebody came and open it. >> Yeah. >> So, how how did it look like? >> This was flat. So, the this was on top. and then.

and then there was another. >> wood. >> Hey man. So, there is a a grave. >> There appears to be maybe two dogs. Maybe two or three dogs. >> Yeah, that's not true. >> Yeah, two or three dogs inside. It looks. like it's been here for some time, but.

um there the person the RP is telling me. that it didn't look like this yesterday. that somebody had come over and. >> Yeah. opened it up. >> Um opened it up for some reason. I will I do have some uh some footprints. around this too. >> The burial site contained [music] dead. dogs buried beneath. Not exactly what. police were expecting, though it meant. there still might be hope for Dylan.

Just as the investigation began to. settle back into a frustrating. standstill, police received a call from. someone they knew well, Jim Brainer's. close friend, Donald Hatley. He'd been. around since the early days of the. search, helping the family and. cooperating with officers. But now, weeks into the investigation, he wanted. to speak with investigators, claiming he. had important information to share, something he'd kept hidden ever since. Dylan vanished.

Detectives immediately arranged to meet. with Donald, where they would finally. uncover one of the first truly damning. clues in the case. >> Oh, I'll tell you something, okay? And I I really don't think it has. anything to do with anything. You guys. found ammunition and stuff with Gems. >> Yeah. >> And he was in white powder and food in. the stick. >> Yeah. >> But he figured that would be a a reason. to. poke you or something or say whatever.

So he brought us black auto right. >> Okay. Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Where are those? Well, I put one behind my bed, my. bedroom, and the other one's leaned up. in the corner next to Jaden on the. couch. And. >> when did he bring them? After billing. >> Oh, yeah. Definitely after. >> Why? >> Basically safety. When. last time, you know, they had him in.

Hulk for over a year and when he got. out, everything he had was gone. Everything. I can't ask you what's going. through Jyn's head at that time, but. what's going through yours when he. brings you his rifles and a six gun? >> Honestly, it looked like he was scared. that, you know, he was going to be. detained for 6 months or a year and lose. everything he had. He said, "Well, >> he had no idea what happened to his. horses last time." Well, okay. All his. gun, everything he owned disappeared. >> So, why do you think he's going to get.

detained or why does he think he's going. to get detained for 6 months? just. because he's a felon and he could be. held for so he knows he's a felon. He. knows he shouldn't have them and so he. >> Oh, I don't know. I don't know. According to him, black power primitive. weapon is not considered firearm. Now, if he'd have brought me a firearm, I'd. have said no. >> Okay. Um, so sometime after Dylan, do. you remember how long after? I mean, it's only been 3 weeks now. >> It seems like forever. I wish that kid.

had just gone walking down the road. starting to kick his butt. >> I wish too, but the longer this goes, the less likely it looks. >> Yeah. >> Donald's admission couldn't have come at. a worse time for Jim Briner. Although. Donald explained that Jim hid the guns. at his place out of fear of losing them, the timing was deeply suspicious. And. for detectives, this was enough to place. Briner at the center of suspicion. alongside Chase Venstra. Following this. discovery, the firearms were seized and. Jim Brainer picked up an additional.

firearm possession charge, keeping him. in jail as the investigation continued. But detectives still lacked concrete. evidence against anyone, and crucial DNA. results from the bloody boots found near. the shed were yet to return. It seemed. like the case might stall for a while. Over. a year would pass with detectives. quietly [music] making progress, including crucial DNA results, but still.

no sign of Dylan himself and no one held. responsible. That is until December 2023 when. investigators got a call that would. change everything. Jim Briner's cellmate, who'd spent. months locked up alongside him, claimed. to know exactly what had happened to. Dylan. Detectives quickly arranged an. interview, expecting another bargaining. scenario similar to Chase Venstra's. But.

what the cellmate would reveal instead. was a chilling murder confession. >> You must be brought, sir. [music]. Thank you. So, they had said that you wanted us to. come back that you had more information. >> Yeah. >> Or did you have information before that. you just didn't give us all of it? >> No, I didn't. I didn't really have I. didn't really have a whole lot of. information then. Um. >> Okay. >> I I I got plenty of information now. Um. [clears throat] I got information that. probably help maybe even.

keep him cutting the deal that he wants. to cut deal with. um on his right hand. Nobody has noticed he's got a bite mark. >> Has he? >> He's got a bite from Dylan rounds. Um. the 22 is what killed Dylan. >> Two shots. >> Yeah, the 22. The. >> Did he tell you that? >> Yeah. >> Just tell you that. >> Um like 2 days ago, 3 days ago. >> Go Yeah, go through that. >> Um he said it was like 6:00 in the.

morning. He uh was in there taking a [ __ ] and. then he heard a diesel truck drive by. the the place he was staying in. >> And uh when he got out there, he had had. his .45 a gun that he put in a bold over. hoster. >> Mhm. >> Um and Dylan had picked it up off the. saw horses that he he thrown his stuff. all around, moved it up so he could put. the truck in the he shed. Okay. >> Yeah. And Dylan was holding the 45 and and he.

said he got really pissed off at him and. started yelling at him and told him get. get the [ __ ] out of there. And Dylan. took the gun and fired it right beside. his ear. That's why he came here out of. his right right right side ear. He said. he grabbed he grabbed he grabbed the guy. was fighting for it. He said they ended. up on the ground and Dylan Dylan ended. up shooting himself in the leg with the. with the with the 45. And then um he. said. while they were fighting the gun got. fired like two or three times. He said. there's a bullet hole in the side of the.

uh side of the building out there. You. can see. >> he said when you guys was out there. talking to him and standing in the shed. or something standing up there. He said. he was sitting there looking at it. >> Mhm. Um, and then uh he he showed me a. scar on his thumb too where he had stuck. his hand in in the gun that was trying. to keep gun from firing it again, but he. was clicking and clicking and it was and. it [music]. his whole right hand was was damaged at. one time. >> Okay. >> Um, but the bite mark is evident very. seeable and the body is somewhere right.

there close by. Um, he said he seen. power marks over it where you guys have. been driving. Um, so we've been driving. on it. >> Just give you any indication of where? >> Yeah, >> there's a it's just there's a lot of. country out there. >> Yeah, he said it's in the high desert. >> Did he say that it was close to where he. killed him? >> Yeah, it's it's close. It's close. somewhere there. >> Where he killed him? >> He gave him He g He gave like a 25 mile. circumference. >> Oh, Highways.

>> Yeah. >> Okay. So, he heard um Dylan drive by in. his truck. Mhm. >> Uh Dylan had backed the truck into the. grain shed. >> No, he said he said the truck was still. parked out. >> So it wasn't backed in yet? >> Yeah. No, it wasn't backed in. And and. and that's when they had the fight. They. had the fight and everyone went on in. there. He said that the the the round on. the gun got turned. He said he heard it. turning like it was a revolver. >> Yeah, it was a revolver. He said he got. to the chance where Dylan let quit.

biting him on his wrist. need to hit. latched on to him and he said he got up. and he took off out and that's when he. he got he got the 22 told him to bring. his ass back his area or he was going to. shoot the horse. The horse was standing. outside. >> into the grain shed about eating the. horse was standing out there eating. grain out of the back of the truck. >> and then from what you're saying he did. he run back in the trailer and get Tommy. too. Hey, there's a they know that they. they said it was behind the bags, some.

green bags. He said he took three shots. at him and they're all head shot. He. said one of them graded grazed Dylan on. the side of his face. He he pointed he. pointed just like this to the side of. his face. So it could have been red. >> You know, I couldn't tell you if it was. right side, but then he said two more. shots he shot Dylan head. >> and that killed him. Yeah. >> And then what did he do? >> Then then he got he said he burned all. his clothes. He said after he took care. of everything, he burned all all the. clothes. The revelations from Brainer's. cellmate were chilling to say the least.

According to him, the argument that. ended Dylan's life stemmed from Brainer. being irritated with Dylan for. repeatedly using the shed he considered. his own workspace. After killing Dylan, Briner attempted to. cover up his crime by loading Dylan's. body onto a backhoe, burying him deep in. a remote stretch of the desert nearby. He then concealed the guns at Donald. Hatley's place and discarded Dylan's. phone in a nearby pond, unaware it had. recorded a damning, irrefutable proof of.

his crime. In addition to this. confession, detectives turned back to. the bloody boot DNA evidence they. received a few months earlier. The state. lab report confirms the blood belonged. to Dylan, but they also found touch DNA. matching Jim Briner on the boots. Using. this evidence, investigators then. secured a search warrant for Briner's. phone. And by analyzing its data, they. confirmed [music] his device had. traveled toward a nearby pond the day. Dylan vanished. [music] After searching.

the pond, they retrieved Dylan's phone. containing crucial evidence, a video. clearly showing Jim Briner in a. bloodstained shirt cleaning a gun. At. this point, there was no longer any. doubt. Jim Briner killed Dylan Rounds. and had been hiding in plain sight all. along. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Brener still sought to negotiate.

Prosecutors were preparing for an. aggravated murder trial, but still. lacked Dylan's body. So, Briner offered. prosecutors a deal. He would reveal the. location of Dylan's body in exchange for. reduced charges. In spring of 2024, [music]. Briner guided law enforcement to Dylan's. remains in the Lucen Desert. The burial. site was several miles from the. Greenshed property and was so well. hidden that investigators had driven. over the spot during earlier searches. without noticing it. Inside the grave,

they located Dylan's [music] skeletal. remains. Only bones and fragments of his. clothing survived.