Investigators said the search was a success. Items of interest were recovered. They will be tested and added to other evidence collected during the 3 ½ year investigation.
An examination of the search results will help determine the next steps Investigators will take to move the case forward.
From the LaPlata Co. Sheriff's Office:
On Monday, La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from at least 16 other groups, concluded a five day follow up search on the upper reaches of Middle Mountain in northeast La Plata County for clues related to the murder of Dylan Redwine in November of 2012. Some of Dylan’s remains and other evidence were recovered in earlier searches.
A total of 69 people took part in this search which began Thursday July 7th and ended Monday July 11th . Searchers put in approximately1088 manhours, often in rugged terrain above 10,000’ altitude. New areas as well as areas previously searched were covered and accumulatively added up to an area of about 1 mile by 1 mile. Most of the people who searched came at their own expense, with several traveling hundreds of miles.
Investigators said the search was a success. Items of interest were recovered. They will be tested and added to other evidence collected during the 3 ½ year investigation.
An examination of the search results will help determine the next steps Investigators will take to move the case forward.
Searchers who took part in this latest effort were from: La Plata County Sheriff’s Office; Denver Police Dept; Mesa County Search & Rescue; Sandia (New Mexico) Search Dogs; Boulder Office of District Attorney; Immigration & Customs Enforcement; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Grand Junction Police Dept; Southern Ute Rangers; Fort Lewis College; Garfield County Sheriff’s Office; Upper Pine Fire Dept; La Plata Search & Rescue; La Plata Mounted Patrol; Mounted Rangers; other subject matter experts.
The governor’s visit was carefully scheduled to give first responders, law enforcement and emergency vehicles ample time to complete rescues and other emergency work during the flooding. Now that the floodwaters are receding and initial damage assessments are underway, the Governor will survey the disaster zone and work to get families the help they need.
Bloomfield Residents and businesses: please minimize water use until further notice. Postpone laundry and dishwasher use, keep showers brief, and reduce toilet flushing when practical and sanitary. Every reduction helps limit wastewater entering the river.
The district has worked with the Lower Valley Water Users Association on the testing needed to lift the boil water notice. Because of the number of tests required, the district has decided to keep students on remote learning as a precaution for their well-being. If test results come back early, the district must still follow processes and protocols to flush and clear the water lines at each school before in-person instruction can resume. Safety is our top priority for the well-being of our Kirtland students.
Water Samples taken from the Lower Valley Water Association system have tested negative for e-coli. The Boil Water notice has been lifted for customers.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that Lauren Patterson’s husband, Jess Patterson, had previously resided in California and had been arrested at least 6 times for domestic violence in that state and had been arrested in July 2026 in New Mexico for battering Ms. Patterson. An autopsy revealed Ms. Patterson suffered multiple broken bones, bruising, and internal injuries.