Suspect Arrested After Triple Homicide in Utah

22-year-old Iowa man accused of killing three women, including two on a hiking trail

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Police have arrested 22-year-old Ivan Miller of Blakesburg, Iowa, in connection with a triple homicide in Utah. The victims include an elderly woman killed at her home, and two women in their 30s found dead on a hiking trail. Miller was apprehended in Colorado after a multi-state manhunt.

Why it matters

The brutal killings have shocked the local community and raised concerns about public safety, especially on remote hiking trails. Authorities have not yet determined a motive, describing the crimes as 'crimes of convenience' with no known connection between the suspect and victims.

The details

According to police, the horror unfolded on Wednesday when two husbands found their wives dead on a hiking trail near Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. A search of a nearby vehicle led authorities to the Lyman home of a third victim, an elderly woman in her 80s, who investigators believe was killed first. The suspect then allegedly stole the elderly woman's car, drove to the trail, and later abandoned it for one of the murdered wives' vehicles. Using license plate readers and vehicle tracking, police traced the suspect's travel from Utah through northern Arizona to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where he was apprehended after a brief search.

  • On Wednesday, two women in their 30s were found dead on a hiking trail in Utah.
  • The third victim, an elderly woman in her 80s, was found dead at her home in Lyman, Utah.
  • The suspect, Ivan Miller, was arrested on Thursday morning in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

The players

Ivan Miller

A 22-year-old man from Blakesburg, Iowa, who has been arrested and charged in connection with the triple homicide.

Utah Highway Patrol

The law enforcement agency leading the investigation into the triple homicide.

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What they’re saying

“Police have not revealed a motive and said the alleged killer has no known connection to the three victims, describing the slayings as crimes of 'convenience.'”

— Lt. Cameron Roden, Utah Highway Patrol spokesperson (nypost.com)

What’s next

Miller is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday afternoon, where prosecutors will likely outline the charges against him and a judge will determine whether he should be granted bail.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the need for increased safety measures and awareness on remote hiking trails, as well as the importance of thorough investigations to determine motives and prevent future senseless acts of violence.