His parents, Daniel and Jessica Groves were arrested two days prior on June 10, 2019, after failing to make in-person contact with Scioto County Children's Services for two months, resulting in a missing person's report being filed for Dylan.

Dylan had multiple fractures to his arm, legs, skull, and ribs which occurred at different periods of time, evident from their stages of healing.

Staff in the maternity ward administered no pain medications to Jessica because she was under the influence as well as there were no records of prenatal care for Dylan.

They intended to release Dylan to Daniel under the pretenses Jessica would not live in the same home and had to attend drug treatment.

Dylan remained with Tackett for ten days, before he was placed back into the custody of Daniel under the previously discussed pretenses.

Caseworker Patricia Craft made contact with the family at their home on March 28, which was the last documented sight of Dylan alive.

Children services filed a missing person's report for Dylan on April 30, and continued to make unsuccessful attempts at contacting the family.

On one occasion, on May 20, Captain John Murphy observed the Groves on a four-wheeler near their home, and attempted to stop them, but they took off into the woods.

They both initially told Detective Conkel that Children's Services had already taken Dylan along with their eldest son Daniel Junior.

Members of the Otway Volunteer Fire Department assisted in recovering Dylan's body, which was pulled from the well after four hours.

Inside the two milk crates were 18 large rocks, and what was described by the medical examiner who performed the autopsy as an “iron anchor-type device.” Dylan's body was wrapped in two blankets, numerous layers of plastic, and duct tape.

Dylan's cause of death was listed as “homicidal violence of undetermined etiology” by medical examiner Dr. Susan Brown, who performed the autopsy.

In October, Lorra Fuller, the executive director of Scioto County Children's Services at the time, was placed on administrative leave.

[11] Among the witnesses at their trial were maternity nurses, pediatricians, Andrea Bowling – Dylan's foster mother, and law enforcement officials, including Detective Conkel.

She testified that while Dylan was missing after the Groves’ last visit, she suggested putting out an amber alert from him, but was denied by supervisors, who said that “if an amber alert went out, it would give a bad representation for the agency because they lost a child.”[13][14] Daniel and Jessica's eldest son, Daniel Groves Junior, also testified.

He stated that there were moments where his father would have him provide urine, which the prosecution argued was the reason he passed his drug tests.

During cross-examination, prosecutors referenced statements he gave to investigators about seeing his wife strike Dylan in the head four times and grab him aggressively by the ribs.

During closing arguments, the prosecution argued that Daniel should be found guilty of the same crimes as Jessica for not seeking help after seeing her strike and grab Dylan.