Wayne County Triple Homicide: Man Charged in Utah Women’s Deaths

Triple Homicide Suspect Admits to Killing Women for Cars, Money; Dragging Bodies

Ivan Miller, 22, of Blakesburg, Iowa, has been charged with aggravated murder in connection with the deaths of three women in Wayne County, Utah. According to court documents, Miller confessed to the killings, stating they “had to be done,” though he admitted he didn’t like committing the acts. The crimes involved the theft of vehicles and a desperate need for money, officials said.

The Investigation Unfolds: From Trailhead to Lyman

The investigation began on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, when a Bureau of Land Management ranger responded to a report of two women found dead near Cocks Comb Trailhead off State Route 12 in Wayne County. The women’s husbands had discovered their bodies and flagged down the ranger. Evidence at the scene included spent .45 shell casings and a 20-gauge shotgun shell, along with blood drops and drag marks leading to the bodies. A Buick, later identified as belonging to one of the victims, was found hidden nearby.

Further investigation led deputies to a home in Lyman, Utah, where they conducted a welfare check and discovered a third woman deceased in a cellar under a shed. Evidence suggested she had been moved using a wheelbarrow. The sequence of events, as pieced together by investigators, indicates Miller initially killed the woman in Lyman, took her car to the trailhead, and then killed the other two women. He then abandoned the first car and fled in another victim’s vehicle.

Multi-State Pursuit and Apprehension

Law enforcement used an app to track the key fob of the Subaru belonging to one of the victims, leading them to New Mexico and then Colorado. Colorado authorities located the Subaru at a gas station in Pagosa Springs, where Miller was observed fleeing on foot. He was apprehended shortly after. At the time of his arrest, Miller possessed a Rock Island brand 1911 .45-caliber pistol and financial cards belonging to two of the victims. He was initially booked by the Pagosa Springs Police Department on a charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

Miller’s Confession: A Disturbing Account

During questioning, Miller detailed a series of events beginning with a damaged vehicle. He stated he hit an elk in Loa, Utah, sold his truck, and stayed at a local hotel for several days. He then went to Lyman, where he entered the home of the elderly victim and shot her in the head while she was watching television. He admitted to dragging her body to the cellar. He then stole her Buick, but decided he “did not like the car and wanted to find a different vehicle.”

Miller confessed to encountering two other women at the trailhead and shooting one in the chest. When the second woman continued to move, he stabbed her multiple times. He admitted to dragging both bodies to a ditch. His motive, he claimed, was financial – he needed money to return to Iowa and intended to use a vehicle for transportation. He also confessed to possessing the knife used in the stabbing.

What We Know About Ivan Miller

Ivan Miller, 22, is originally from Blakesburg, Iowa. ABC4 News reports that authorities are still investigating his movements within Utah prior to the murders. KUTV confirms he was safely apprehended in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, following a multi-state search. Details regarding a potential connection to an auto parts store owner prior to the murders have been reported, but remain under investigation. KUTV has more on that story.

Confirmed vs. Unclear Details

Confirmed: Ivan Miller is in custody and has been charged with aggravated murder. He confessed to the killings and provided details about the events. Three women were found dead in Wayne County, Utah. The victims’ vehicles were stolen and used in the commission of the crimes.

Unclear: The exact motive beyond financial need remains under investigation. The relationship, if any, between Miller and the victims has not been established. The investigation into Miller’s activities prior to the murders is ongoing. The identities of the victims have not been publicly released. The specific details of the multi-state search, beyond the initial tracking of the vehicle, have not been fully disclosed.

What Happens Next?

Miller will be prosecuted in Utah for the murders. The legal process will involve arraignment, preliminary hearings, and potentially a trial. Investigators will continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses. The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Utah Highway Patrol, will likely release further information as the investigation progresses. The case will proceed through the Utah court system, and if convicted, Miller faces significant prison time.