Man Accused of Killing 3 Women in Utah Told Police It ‘Had to Be Done’

A 22-year-old man, Ivan Miller, has been charged in connection with the tragic deaths of three women in Utah, raising grave concerns about safety and violence in the area. The Utah Department of Public Safety confirmed Miller’s arrest following the discovery of the victims, who were found under disturbing circumstances.

Miller has been charged with three counts of aggravated murder, as detailed in documents submitted to the Sixth District Court in Utah. The women identified as Margaret Oldroyd, aged 86, Linda Dewey, 65, and Natalie Graves, 34, were found deceased near the Cocks Comb Trailhead. While the relationship between the victims is currently unclear, charging documents reveal a harrowing account of the events leading up to their deaths.

In a shocking confession to authorities, Miller allegedly admitted to using a .45-calibre handgun to shoot the women and further stated that he stabbed one of the victims multiple times. According to the charging documents, Miller claimed that his motive was financial, expressing to law enforcement that he “needed money” and that his actions “had to be done”. Despite this chilling rationale, he reportedly conveyed that he “did not like to do it.”

The investigation has unveiled further unsettling details regarding how Miller executed the alleged murders. It is reported that he spent the night before the killings in a shed in Lyman, Utah. He later entered a woman’s home, where he concealed himself until she began watching television. Upon shooting her, Miller allegedly dragged the victim to the basement before stealing her vehicle, notably indicating a lack of attachment to the car, as he expressed his desire to find “a different vehicle”.

Miller is further accused of stalking two women he encountered at a hiking trail. After observing them exit a white Subaru, he purportedly shot both victims and subsequently stabbed the older woman multiple times, claiming he did so because she “kept moving.” It is believed that he moved the bodies into a ditch and took their credit cards to purchase fuel, illustrating the premeditated nature of his actions.

The alarming sequence of events began when the husbands of Dewey and Graves raised concerns after finding their wives’ bodies at around 4:25 p.m. on Wednesday. In a tragic twist, Oldroyd’s vehicle was later discovered abandoned close to the trailhead, which subsequently led law enforcement to her home. A welfare check conducted by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office revealed blood stains inside her residence, alongside drag marks that suggested she had been moved from her living room.

Following the alleged murders, Miller reportedly fled the scene in one of the victims’ vehicles. However, authorities swiftly utilised the vehicle’s key fob tracking and Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) to monitor his movements. This technological assistance ultimately led to his capture in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. During his arrest, Miller reiterated to officers that his motives were rooted in a need for money and transportation to Iowa.

Investigative reports indicate that there was no prior connection between Miller and the three victims, according to a spokesperson for the Utah Highway Patrol. His history reveals a prior arrest in Davis County, Iowa, where he faced charges including burglary and misdemeanors related to theft and weapon possession. Although he was scheduled for arraignment regarding those charges, Miller now awaits extradition to Utah from Archuleta County, Colorado.

As the investigation into this triple homicide continues, the community is left grappling with the chilling reality of such violence occurring in their midst. The Utah State Courts and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office have yet to comment on the ongoing developments. Local residents and relatives of the victims are undoubtedly seeking answers and justice in the wake of these devastating events.