The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office has identified a person of interest in the death of 13-year-old Dylan Redwine.
Sheriff’s office spokesman Dan Bender said Wednesday that they are not naming the person, but that authorities are hopeful that the investigation of the teenager’s 2012 disappearance and death is moving forward.
“When Dylan’s human remains were found and identified, ever since that point, we’ve been trying to seek justice for him,” Bender said. “This just feels like a few more steps toward that goal.”
In addition to a person of interest, Bender said two searches conducted in June turned up “items of interest,” as well.
“Because of information gathered from those searches and other contacts, we’re planning on doing more searches in the area,” Bender said.
Bender credited Pete Klismet, a retired FBI investigator who has been involved with the case, for recent progress.
The news of the progress in the case was first reported by the Durango Herald.
In June 2013, some of Redwine’s remains were found about 10 miles from his father’s home north of Vallecito Lake.
Bender said the recent searches have taken place near where Redwine’s remains were found.
The boy disappeared while spending a court-ordered, Thanksgiving-week visit with his father, Mark Redwine, in 2012. Redwine’s parents blamed each other for his disappearance.
Dylan’s mother, Elaine Hatfield, accompanied by her son Cory, Dylan’s adult brother, has appeared on the Dr. Phil TV show and accused her ex-husband in connection with the death.
The Herald reported that on Monday, Hatfield filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Mark Redwine in District Court in Durango.
Bender stressed that the sheriff’s office has not identified anyone as a suspect.
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or twitter.com/ehernandez