Virtual memorial for Dylan Round’s 22nd birthday happening Thursday evening

Dylan Rounds | Courtesy photo

IDAHO FALLS — The world is invited to observe Dylan Rounds’ day Thursday evening by lighting a candle, planting a seed and joining a virtual memorial.

The young man, primitively from eastbound Idaho, would beryllium turning 22 years aged connected Aug. 1. He disappeared from his workplace successful nan godforsaken municipality of Lucin, Utah, successful May 2022 and his assemblage was not recovered for astir 2 years.

James Brenner led authorities to Rounds’ buried remains successful April and pleaded guilty to second-degree execution a fewer weeks later. Candice Cooley and Justin Rounds, Dylan Rounds’ parents, were successful nan courtroom past period erstwhile Brenner was sentenced to serve 3 to 30 years successful situation for sidesplitting their son.

RELATED | Body of Dylan Rounds recovered successful distant Utah desert, family says

“He seemed a batch darker than nan times before,” Justin Rounds tells EastIdahoNews.com. “It was quiet successful nan courtroom. I was beautiful nervous. I’m conscionable gladsome it’s over. That’s each I tin opportunity astir it.”

Cooley says Brenner appeared “evil” successful nan courtroom and refused to look her, aliases anyone else, successful nan eye. She was successful Arizona connected April 9 erstwhile rule enforcement called and said they had recovered her son’s body.

“It was conscionable a “finally” moment. Now we ne'er had to interest about, ‘What is that (call from a) 435 aliases 801 area codification going to show america this time? What is this email from nan prosecuting attorney’s office?’ We were perpetually connected pins and needles to reply nan telephone aliases unfastened an email. That’s each gone now. We don’t person to person that worry anymore. Dylan is backmost successful Idaho,” Cooley explains.

Rounds’ parents person been overwhelmed by nan support they’ve received from group everywhere. Strangers person sent blankets, flowers, gifts, emails and benignant notes expressing their emotion and Rounds’ family wanted to do thing involving others for Rounds’ birthday.

“We’re doing a virtual memorial pinch Missing successful America web from 6-7 p.m. (on Thursday),” Cooley says. “We person immoderate guests coming connected and group who want to stock stories. It’s conscionable a measurement for nan nationalist to person immoderate closure pinch really overmuch they travel Dylan’s lawsuit and person travel to emotion him.”

Candice Cooley, Dylan Rounds’ mother, sent astir 2,000 candles and seed packets to group each complete nan world successful grant of her son. | Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com

Cooley says she has shipped astir 2,000 sunflower candles and seed packets to group each complete nan world. During nan memorial, a slideshow will beryllium shown of group holding their lit candles – galore of them opinionated adjacent to sunflowers. The memorial will beryllium livestreamed here, and those who watch are invited to ray a candle wherever they are.

Rounds’ family is making arrangements for a general memorial work and due funeral successful September. Details will beryllium announced astatine a later date.

“I conscionable want to convey everybody retired there. The friends, nan acquaintances, nan messages from full strangers, nan awkward conversations astatine nan state position wherever group don’t really cognize what to opportunity – I conscionable felt a batch of emotion and support done this,” Rounds says. “I get benignant of affectional astir it but I conscionable wanted to opportunity thanks.”

Watch our full question and reply pinch Justin Rounds and Candice Cooley successful nan video subordinate above.