Residential & Commercial Security - Locks, Keys & Dead Bolts - Help! My super mom skills don't cover locks

I have a door lock mechanism that is stuck in the door closed position if that makes any sense. When you shut the door the bolt portion (D shaped, not a deadbolt) goes into the jamb through the hole in the strike plate and a smaller round bolt also extends into the same space and holds the door shut. When you turn the knob the two should retract and the door should open. On my door, you can turn the door knob from either side in either direction and the bolt will not retract. The knob turns normally (doesn't spin) and will actually push in and "lock" from the inside like normal. However it has no effect on the bolt itself. I took the screws out and the knobs are off from both sides. I can turn the round wheel thing with the square hole in the middle with a screwdriver. That still does nothing and I can slide some metal slider do hickey that goes on the top and bottom of cylinder that is still stuck in door back and forth. It still does nothing to the bolt portion left in the door jamb. The brass cylinder piece is still stuck in the door jamb, as is the flatter metal guts of the lock. I can't move it and I don't have enough space around it to just back it out of the door. I don't even know if my usual "get a bigger hammer" theory of beating it into submission and buying a new lock mechanism will work without tearing up my door. Any suggestions?

Welcome to the forums!

Usually with a broken latch like this, I would dismantle it piece by piece through the knob holes until you can get at the bolt an pull it back. Pliers or smaller vise grips can be used to grip and twist the latch apart.

Replacement latches are often available or if it is a cheaper lock you would be better off buying a new one.

It sounds like the latch mechanism is binding because it is fitted incorrectly.

Since it works fine when the door is open.

You will need to take the pressure off the latch to be able to "slip" the latch open.

Is the door, a tight fit? Perhaps the latch is not lining up properly with the strike?

The smaller deadlatching piece should never enter the strike. It is designed to sit outside the strike so that only the latch itself is deadlocked.

You need to release pressure on the latch to enable you to retract the latch.

Then you will need to adjust the strike so that the little deadlatching device does not enter the strike hole.

Remove the knobs and dismantle the guts left inside the door in this manner. Pry apart the flat part with a screwdriver and remove the bits with pliers. Two prongs will remain. Pull on one with the pliers and open the door.
This lock was not installed properly or your door does not fit well. Most likely, the strikeplate was not correctly installed as you indicated the deadpin of the latch was not engaging properly.