Authorities in Utah are investigating the deaths of three women in Wayne County after a suspect was arrested following a multi-state manhunt. Officials say the killings happened on the same day and believe the suspect targeted the victims mainly to steal their vehicles.
Ivan Miller, 23, is now in custody after being arrested in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Law enforcement agencies say he has been charged with carrying a concealed knife and handgun, and later indicted on three counts of aggravated murder.
Three Women Found Dead in Wayne County
According to officials from the Utah Department of Public Safety, the three victims were discovered on Wednesday at two separate locations in Wayne County.
The first victim was an elderly woman in her 80s who was found dead inside her home in Lyman, a small town in southern Utah.
The other two victims, women in their 30s and 60s, were discovered along a hiking trail near Capitol Reef National Park. The park is located about 15 miles south of Lyman near the town of Torrey.
Authorities said the victims were all believed to be from the local area. Their identities have not yet been publicly released.
Investigators Believe Vehicles Were the Motive
Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Cameron Roden said investigators believe the suspect killed the victims mainly to steal their vehicles.
According to police, there is currently no evidence suggesting that the women were specifically targeted.
Officials believe Miller first entered the elderly woman’s home, killed her, and stole her vehicle. He then allegedly drove to a hiking trail area where the other two women were located.
Investigators believe he killed them there and stole their vehicle as well.
Bodies Discovered After Families Reported Them Missing
The two women on the hiking trail were discovered first.
Authorities said their husbands became concerned when the women failed to return home from their hike. Around 4:30 p.m., they began searching for them and eventually contacted police.
During the investigation, officers located a vehicle near the trailhead that belonged to the elderly woman from Lyman. This discovery led them to her home, where her body was later found.
Multi-State Manhunt Leads to Arrest
After the killings were discovered, law enforcement agencies launched a large manhunt across several states.
The FBI assisted investigators by using license plate reader cameras and vehicle tracking technology. This allowed officers to track the stolen vehicle through:
- Southern Utah
- Northern Arizona
- Southern Colorado
Around 11:10 p.m. on Wednesday, police in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, were alerted that the stolen vehicle connected to the case had entered their area.
Officers soon located the vehicle, a white 2022 Subaru Outback, abandoned at Centennial Park in downtown Pagosa Springs.
Suspect Found With Gun and Knife
A few hours later, police located Miller nearby.
During a search, officers discovered he was carrying both a concealed handgun and a large knife. He was arrested on weapons charges.
Police later interviewed him, and investigators say the interview connected him to the three deaths in Utah.
Authorities said Miller is originally from Iowa and had no known connection to the Wayne County area.
Suspect Confessed During Investigation
According to charging documents, Miller allegedly admitted to killing the three women. Investigators said he claimed he used a handgun and a knife during the attacks.
Officials reported that each victim was shot with .45 caliber bullets. One victim was also stabbed multiple times in the heart.
Police also found 20-gauge shotgun shells at both crime scenes during the investigation.
During questioning, Miller reportedly told investigators that he committed the crimes because he “needed the money.”
Prosecutors also said he made additional comments about the victims while describing the attacks.
Community Mourning the Victims
The killings have deeply shaken the small communities in Wayne County.
Torrey Mayor Mickey Wright released a statement expressing sympathy to the families of the victims.
He said the town was grieving after the tragic loss of three women and offered condolences to their loved ones during this difficult time.
Suspect Faces Extradition to Utah
Authorities are now preparing formal charges so Miller can be extradited back to Wayne County, Utah.
Investigators say both crime scenes are still being examined as the case continues to develop
