In a quiet home in Black Hawk, Colorado, a grim sequence of events unfolded that would remain hidden for months. The life of 56-year-old James Bitner was cut short on November 12, 2023, a fact that would only come to light after a gruesome discovery in a neighboring state. His body, wrapped carefully in blankets and a tarp, was found the following summer on July 4, 2024, near the serene Mirror Lake in Albany County, Wyoming.
The popular recreational area was temporarily closed as law enforcement began the difficult task of unraveling the mystery of the man initially identified only as 'John Doe.'
An autopsy would later reveal the chilling cause of James Bitner's death: a single gunshot wound to the back of his head. As investigators worked to identify the remains using fingerprints, the case led them back to Colorado and to a suspect few would have imagined. Suspicion fell upon James Bitner's own adopted son, Jaymz Bitner. The investigation revealed that following the murder, Jaymz had transported his father's body over 100 miles to the remote Wyoming location in an attempt to conceal the crime.
The subsequent investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Gilpin County Sheriff's Office in Colorado and the Albany County Sheriff's Office in Wyoming, pieced together the tragic story. Jaymz Bitner was arrested and faced a trio of serious charges: second-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, and solicitation to dispose of a body. In a court of law, Jaymz Bitner was held accountable for his actions. He ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 24 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, bringing a somber conclusion to the case of a father killed by his own son.
