BLACK HAWK – A Gilpin County District Court hearing on Thursday, July 3, brought a brief update in the homicide case of Jaymz Bitner, the 19-year-old accused of killing his adoptive father, James Bitner, and disposing of his body across state lines.

Bitner appeared in court for his scheduled arraignment. The hearing, filed under case number CR24-083, centered on an ongoing exchange between the defense and the prosecution regarding a possible plea agreement.

According to the prosecuting attorney, “quality plea discussions” are underway and may or may not lead to a disposition.

For now, both sides have agreed to continue negotiations. The court granted a two-week extension, scheduling the next hearing for July 18 at 8:30 a.m., when attorneys are expected to report whether the case will be resolved through a plea or move toward trial.

Case background

James Bitner, 56, was reported missing in November 2023. His body was discovered nearly seven months later near Mirror Lake in Wyoming’s Snowy Range, wrapped in tarps and blankets. An autopsy confirmed he died from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.

Evidence recovered from the family’s Black Hawk home, including a spent rifle casing, linked Jaymz Bitner to the killing. He was arrested in July 2024 and charged with second-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, and solicitation of tampering.

The July 3 hearing marked the first public indication that resolution discussions were progressing. Whether those talks will result in a plea remains uncertain, and a trial remains on the table if negotiations fall through.

The next court appearance on July 18 is expected to clarify the direction of the case. Bitner is currently being held in the Gilpin County Jail.