Mark Redwine, 59, is standing trial in La Plata County, Colorado, for the murder of his 13-year-old son Dylan, who disappeared in November 2012. The trial, which began on Monday, has been delayed at least ten times, including multiple mistrials due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Prosecutors allege that Dylan confronted his father with 'compromising photographs' showing Redwine dressed in women's underwear and eating faeces from a nappy. Special Deputy District Attorney Fred Johnson claimed this triggered a 'violent rage' leading to Dylan's death. The boy's remains were found seven months later, scattered by wild animals, with his skull discovered in 2015 showing blunt force trauma.
Defence attorney John Moran dismissed the motive, citing text messages where Dylan had previously confronted his father about the photos without harm. Moran suggested Dylan ran away and may have been attacked by a bear or mountain lion, pointing to a tooth mark on the skull. He also labelled the prosecution's forensic evidence as 'junk science'.
Prosecutors counter that traces of Dylan's blood were found in Redwine's living room, and a cadaver dog alerted to human remains in his truck and clothing. They argue Redwine killed Dylan in the living room, dumped his body off a trail, and misled investigators. If convicted of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death, Redwine faces up to 48 years in prison.
