Judge Gives Dylan McLeod Life Sentence For 2021 Murder Of Aaron Stitt
MEDFORD, Ore. — A Medford judge handed down a sentence of life in prison with a minimum of 25 years to 26-year-old Dylan McLeod on Thursday for his role in the murder of 24-year-old Aaron Stitt in 2021. McLeod is the third person convicted of the crime.
Aaron Stitt Murder: 3rd Suspect Sentenced
Aside from a life sentence arising from the second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon charges, McLeod was also ordered to pay restitution of $12,275 jointly with his co-defendants to cover Stitt’s funeral expenses.
The judge dismissed the abuse of a corpse charge as the jury was hung on this charge. McLeod waived his right to speak during sentencing.
McLeod received credit for the three years he has already served in jail and faces three years of supervised probation for the weapons charge after his release. Co-defendants Brycen Scofield and Austin McLeod are serving life sentences for their roles in the murder.
According to the prosecutors, the crime was a brutal assault tied to a robbery involving former wildland firefighters McLeod and his brother Austin with Brycen Scofield.
The evidence presented during the trial included an autopsy report indicating 46 blunt force injuries, consistent with the use of a claw hammer and other weapons, were found, and DNA linking Stitt’s blood to a sledgehammer was also found at the scene.
A video on Scofield’s phone showed the McLeod brothers handling bloody clothing and shoes after the murder. McLeod claimed he acted under duress and pointed to Scofield’s erratic behavior to downplay his involvement.
Prosecutors argued all three participated in the killing actively. Under Oregon’s felony murder statute, all participants in the robbery are equally responsible, but in this case, all three individuals participated in the murder.