3 women killed 'for convenience' across single county as one man is taken into custody after driving victim's car, police say

Officials successful Utah person discovered 3 women dormant successful the same county and present 1 antheral is down bars, Beehive State instrumentality enforcement says.

Ivan Miller, 23, stands accused of 1 number of carrying a concealed knife and gun, according to the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office.

The incidents occurred connected Wednesday astatine a location and hiking way successful Wayne County, the Utah Department of Public Safety said during a property league connected Thursday greeting aft the suspect was arrested by constabulary successful Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

"With the usage of LPR Cameras and conveyance tracking methods, instrumentality enforcement agencies were capable to find the suspect," the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said successful a press release issued later.

The names of the victims person yet to beryllium released, but Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Cameron Roden said they were each from "the area."

The archetypal unfortunate was successful her 80s and killed astatine her location successful the tiny municipality of Lyman, authorities said. The 2 different victims were successful their 30s and 60s and killed on an unspecified hiking way adjacent Capitol Reef National Park, which is located astir 15 miles southbound of Lyman disconnected State Route 12 adjacent the arsenic tiny municipality of Torrey.

Authorities judge each of the victims was killed simply due to the fact that the suspect wanted to bargain their vehicles.

"There's thing to suggest they were targeted specifically," Roden said during the property conference. "Other than conscionable for convenience."

The victims' mode of decease has besides yet to beryllium released.

While the timeline of the slayings is not yet complete, instrumentality enforcement believes Miller archetypal entered the octogenarian's home, killed her, and stole her car. Then, helium allegedly drove to the trailhead wherever helium killed the different 2 women and stole their vehicle.

The younger women's bodies were recovered first, Roden said. Around 4:30 p.m., their husbands went looking for them aft they did not instrumentality location from their hike and called police. Investigators rapidly recovered the older woman's car adjacent the 2nd murder country and traced it backmost to her residence, wherever her assemblage was discovered.

A multi-state and multi-agency manhunt ensued. The FBI utilized licence sheet readers and what Roden referred to arsenic "integrated tracking services" to way the 2nd stolen car done confederate Utah, bluish Arizona, and yet into confederate Colorado.

Around 11:10 p.m. Wednesday, section constabulary successful the Mile High State were alerted that the car wanted successful transportation with the killings was successful the Pagosa Springs area, according to section instrumentality enforcement.

A little hunt rapidly turned up the 2nd stolen vehicle, antecedently identified by instrumentality enforcement connected Facebook arsenic a achromatic 2022 Subaru Outback.

"A Pagosa Springs constabulary serviceman recovered the conveyance wrong the metropolis limits," the constabulary section said successful a statement. "The conveyance was past abandoned successful Centennial Park successful the downtown area."

A fewer hours later, Miller was found.

"Upon a frisk of Miller, helium was recovered successful possession of a concealed handgun and ample knife," the constabulary department's connection went on. "Miller was arrested for possession of concealed weapons. A consequent interrogation linked Miller to the deaths successful Utah."

Miller, who hails from Iowa, has nary anterior transportation to the area, Roden said. It is presently unclear however agelong the suspect was antecedently successful Utah earlier the alleged sidesplitting spree occurred.

On Thursday, Roden said the investigations astatine some transgression scenes are ongoing and that ceremonial charges are being prepared truthful the suspect tin beryllium extradited to Wayne County.

"Our assemblage is grieving contiguous pursuing the tragic deaths of 3 women successful Wayne County yesterday," Torrey Mayor Mickey Wright said successful a statement. "On behalf of the Town of Torrey, I widen my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims. This is simply a heartbreaking infinitesimal for our small, close‑knit community."