A Utah TV investigation has uncovered that surveillance footage reportedly showing Charlie Kirk murder suspect Tyler Robinson turning himself in at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office no longer exists and was never shared with the lead investigators, raising fresh questions about evidence handling in the high-profile assassination case.

Sheriff: Robinson Brought In, But No Entry Video

During a briefing on September 17, Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby stated, “Our role was not to conduct interviews; our task was simply to bring him here.” He further mentioned, “Within the hour, my associate drove Tyler and his parents to my office, where plainclothes detectives awaited him.” Following this announcement, KUTV 2News Investigates submitted public records requests for any video evidence showing Robinson entering the jail or holding area, as well as footage from the holding room.

The sheriff’s office replied that there were “no records responsive” to the request for jail entry footage because “Tyler Robinson did not go to or enter the jail area.” Additionally, they noted that broader surveillance footage of Robinson entering the sheriff’s office was “no longer available after the 30-day retention period.”

When questioned about whether the video had been shared with other law enforcement or legal entities, the office confirmed that “it was never sent out to any agency,” indicating that Utah County authorities, who are handling Robinson’s prosecution, never received it.

Rudy Bautista, a criminal defense attorney with over 20 years of experience in capital cases in Utah, expressed to 2News that “for the state of Utah, we would certainly hope that this video is available.” He stated, “If it has been destroyed and not preserved, it’s very concerning,” and suggested that if the video no longer existed locally, officials would have likely indicated that it had been “provided to the Utah County law enforcement.”

Bautista emphasized that video footage of Robinson’s surrender would be “crucial for the defense work of mitigation,” and criticized the response letter as an attempt to “shut the door and not give you free access to the press.” He also reiterated his opinion that the aggravated murder charge, which carries a death penalty in the Kirk case, is “really weak” and “clearly political,” given the circumstances involving a single round from a Mauser Model 98 bolt-action rifle with minimal risk to others.

No one knows whether the video… pic.twitter.com/eRYLR7ki7b

Russell dismissed claims that Robinson’s surrender is evidence of his guilt, pointing out that Robinson has pleaded not guilty and highlighting that critics fail to mention the missing video. “I am at least open about what I do and don’t know,” Russell remarked. “What I don’t know is who killed Charlie Kirk. Guess what? You don’t either.”

Defense Attorney Calls Missing Video ‘Very Concerning’

Criminal defense attorney Rudy Bautista, who has more than two decades of capital-case experience in Utah, told 2News that “for the state of Utah, we would certainly hope that this video is available.” He said, “If in fact it has been destroyed and not preserved, it’s very concerning,” and argued that if it no longer existed locally he would have expected officials to say it had at least “been provided to the Utah County law enforcement.”

Bautista said video of Robinson surrendering would be “crucial for the defense work of mitigation,” and criticized the response letter as “trying to shut the door and not give you free access to the press.” He also reiterated his view that, given a single round from a Mauser Model 98 bolt-action rifle and the limited risk to others, the aggravated murder death-penalty posture in the Kirk case is “really weak” and “clearly political.”

Commentator: ‘We Don’t Know Anything’ Without Footage

Liberty Lockdown host Clint Russell seized on the revelations about the missing surveillance video, arguing that without the footage, public claims about how Robinson came into custody are on shaky ground. “The surveillance footage of him turning himself in, uh, disappeared,” Russell said, adding, “We don’t have any actual proof that that’s even what happened. We don’t have any proof that his family actually turned him in or that it was, you know, against his will or that he didn’t walk in there alone or anything. We don’t know anything.”

Russell mocked those insisting Robinson’s surrender proves his guilt, noting that he has pleaded not guilty and saying critics “don’t” mention the missing video. “I am at least open about what I do and don’t know,” he said. “What I don’t know is who killed Charlie Kirk. Guess what? You don’t either.”

Clint Russell dismantles Jack Posobiec for peddling that lazy “his parents turned him in, so he’s the killer” bullshit about Tyler Robinson. pic.twitter.com/6XsYEp9Jrm

— Ethan Fowler (@EthanFowler32) December 13, 2025