GOODING, ID – A Gooding County teenager convicted of brutally murdering an 18-year-old and attempting to cover up the crime with help from an accomplice was sentenced Monday to decades behind bars, bringing a tragic chapter closer to an end for the victim’s grieving family.
Rolan Delacruz, 16, was sentenced to 23 years to life in state prison after pleading guilty to the murder of Dax Richins. The killing, which occurred over the summer, involved both Delacruz and 18-year-old Alexander Garcia luring Richins to a remote area under the pretense of attending a bonfire.
According to court documents, the pair picked Richins up from a parking lot in Jerome last June, but instead of a gathering, violently attacked him in Gooding County. Prosecutors said Delacruz and Garcia struck Richins with brass knuckles and repeatedly stabbed him, ultimately causing his death.
The following day, investigators say the teenagers returned to the scene where they attempted to destroy evidence. They dismembered Richins’ body, removing some body parts to hinder identification, and buried what remained in a shallow grave. Discovery of the crime came months later, when Richins’ skull and other remains were found near the Snake River Canyon rim.
The investigation also revealed chilling details about the actions and mindset of the perpetrators. Law enforcement uncovered social media videos in which Garcia discussed mutilating a human skull, and messages where he admitted to killing someone. Authorities also recovered a bone reportedly kept as a trophy in Garcia’s truck.
In an earlier hearing, Garcia, who was 17 at the time of the murder, was sentenced to 25 years to life after also pleading guilty. Both young men were ordered to serve their time in the Idaho Department of Corrections, bypassing juvenile detention due to the gravity of the crime.
The courtroom was filled with emotion as Richins’ family confronted Delacruz during sentencing. Dax’s father, Rodney Richins, struggled to comprehend how teenagers could take a life so abruptly, underscoring the “senseless” nature of the crime and the devastation left behind.
Before the judge announced his sentence, Delacruz offered an expression of remorse, telling the court that he lives with the memory of the crime every night and accepts whatever punishment is assigned to him.
Earlier, Gooding County District Court Judge Rosemary Emory described the case as deeply troubling before handing down the sentence, which mandates Delacruz remain incarcerated for at least 23 years before eligibility for parole.
The case has also resulted in charges against a third individual, 23-year-old Nathaniel Felix, who faces allegations of being an accessory to murder and destroying evidence. Felix has entered a not guilty plea, and his trial is scheduled for early 2026.
Officials say the sentencing of Delacruz and Garcia closes an important chapter for investigators, though the loss for the Richins family remains immeasurable. The case continues to draw interest, both for its disturbing details and for the questions it raises about youth violence.