A multi-state manhunt concluded on Thursday following the arrest of a 22-year-old man suspected of killing three women in rural Utah. Authorities took Ivan Miller into custody in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, after he allegedly confessed to the triple homicide during police questioning.
The investigation began on Wednesday when the bodies of two hikers were discovered by their husbands along a trail near Capitol Reef National Park. While processing that scene, law enforcement officers located a third victim inside a private residence in the nearby town of Lyman.
Investigators identified the victims as 86-year-old Margaret Oldroyd, 65-year-old Linda Dewey, and 34-year-old Natalie Graves. Prosecutors allege that Miller first killed Oldroyd in her home before stealing her vehicle to drive to the trailhead where the other victims were found.
According to court documents, Miller told investigators that he killed the women because he needed money and a reliable vehicle to return to his home state of Iowa. He reportedly admitted to shooting the victims with a handgun and using a knife during the violent encounters.
Law enforcement successfully tracked the suspect across state lines by utilizing license plate readers and vehicle tracking services. Miller was eventually located in southwestern Colorado after he abandoned a stolen white Subaru Outback and attempted to flee on foot.
The arrest was carried out without further incident by a multi-agency task force that included local police and FBI agents. Miller is currently being held in a Colorado jail on a concealed weapon charge while he awaits extradition back to Utah to face murder counts.
Residents in the small communities of Torrey and Lyman expressed profound shock as details of the random attacks began to emerge. Local schools were closed for two days out of an abundance of caution while the search for the dangerous suspect was underway.
Officials from the Utah Department of Public Safety stated that there is no evidence suggesting the suspect knew any of his victims prior to the attacks. They described the homicides as crimes of convenience carried out by an individual who had recently become stranded in the area.
Legal proceedings are expected to move forward quickly as prosecutors prepare to file three counts of first-degree aggravated murder against the Iowa resident. Defense attorneys have already indicated that they may challenge the extradition process during upcoming court hearings in Colorado.