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Gilpin County murder: Son faces charges in father’s death

MINDY LEARY
Posted 12/25/24

GILPIN COUNTY – The murder of 56-year-old James Bitner allegedly occurred in Gilpin County on November 12, 2023. An autopsy report found that James Eugene Bitner died of a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. 

His adopted son, Jaymz...

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Gilpin County murder: Son faces charges in father’s death

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GILPIN COUNTY – The murder of 56-year-old James Bitner allegedly occurred in Gilpin County on November 12, 2023. An autopsy report found that James Eugene Bitner died of a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. 

His adopted son, Jaymz Bitner, has been charged in connection with the crime and is currently held in the Gilpin County Jail. 

On August 2, 2024, The Mountain-Ear published a brief note: “The body of a man previously referred to as ‘John Doe,’ found wrapped in a tarp near Mirror Lake on the Snowy Range summit off Wyoming Highway 130, has been identified as 56-year-old James Bitner from Black Hawk, Colorado. The Albany County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Bitner’s death is being investigated as a homicide.”

A preliminary hearing was held on December 11, 2024, where Judge Lindsay Vangilder ruled that “the court finds that there is probable cause and adequate evidence to charge the defendant Jaymz Bitner on all three counts.” 

The charges include second-degree murder, tampering with a deceased human body, and solicitation to dispose of a body.

District Attorney Bruce Brown said in his closing remarks that “the argument on behalf of the people is that there is evidence sufficient to say the defendant committed the crimes. That there is probable cause.”

To address safety concerns for witnesses and ensure a fair trial, Judge Vangilder decided to prohibit the livestreaming of the case. This decision was made following a request by the defense, citing the small size of the community and the importance of obtaining an unbiased jury. 

The proceedings will still be accessible via WebEx, which allows the court to monitor attendance. Members of the public may also attend in person at the Gilpin County Combined Court, located at 2960 Dory Hill Road, Black Hawk.

The prosecution alleges that Jaymz Bitner fatally shot his father, James, on November 12, 2023, at their family home in Black Hawk. 

On approximately November 16, 2024, Jaymz and another individual reportedly transported the body to the Mirror Lake Recreation Area in Albany County, Wyoming, where it was concealed. 

The body was discovered on July 4, 2024, wrapped in blankets, tarps, and other materials. According to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office and the Gilpin County detective team, the remains were in a state of advanced decomposition.

In an earlier report published on August 2, 2024, Cowboy State Daily wrote, “The adopted adult son of a Colorado man whose dead body was wrapped in a tarp and dumped at the Mirror Lake Recreation Area in Albany County, Wyoming, in early July has been charged with his father’s murder.” 

The report noted that James Bitner’s remains were identified through fingerprints and traced to his home in Black Hawk. The Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office investigation found evidence, including pawn records for over $14,000 in silver and gold coins linked to Jaymz Bitner, as well as cadaver dog alerts on a vehicle Jaymz had been driving.

The discovery of James Bitner’s body prompted the temporary closure of the popular Snowy Range picnic and fishing site over the Fourth of July weekend as law enforcement conducted their investigation. 

Despite the progress made in identifying the victim and charging a suspect, many questions remain unanswered, and the judicial process is far from over.

At this stage, sharing specific details about the case could jeopardize the legal proceedings. More information will be disclosed as the case moves forward. 

The arraignment for Jaymz Bitner is scheduled for January 31, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. at the Gilpin County Combined Court.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office at 303-582-1060.