An Iowa man has been charged with the brutal murder of three women in Utah. Ivan Miller, 22, reportedly confessed to the killings, stating, “it had to be done” but expressing no enjoyment in the act. The charges were filed in the Sixth District Court of Utah.
Details of the Murders
According to court documents filed on Thursday, Miller disclosed that he used a .45-caliber handgun to shoot the victims and also stabbed one of them multiple times. He is facing three counts of aggravated murder. The victims have been identified as:
- Margaret Oldroyd, 86
- Linda Dewey, 65
- Natalie Graves, 34
Dewey was related to Graves, being her aunt. Notably, there are no established connections between Miller and Oldroyd, the first victim.
Crime Locations
The bodies were discovered at two sites near Capitol Reef National Park in south-central Utah. Miller allegedly stayed overnight in a shed on Oldroyd’s property. He waited for her to enter her home before attacking her from behind with a gun as she watched television.
Following the murder, he allegedly dragged her body to the basement before fleeing with her vehicle, a Buick, only to discard it later for a different car. He later encountered Dewey and Graves at a nearby trail.
Subsequent Attacks
Miller approached the two women after they exited a white Subaru. After shooting the older Dewey, he reportedly stabbed her multiple times when she continued to move. The bodies were discovered side by side in a ditch.
Discovery and Arrest
The husbands of the victims found their bodies at approximately 4:25 PM on Wednesday. Authorities were alerted shortly thereafter. A Bureau of Land Management ranger found Oldroyd’s Buick at the trailhead, leading to further investigation.
Following the crime, Miller abandoned the Buick and took the Subaru belonging to one of his victims. He was tracked using the vehicle’s key fob and arrested in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, at 2:45 AM on Thursday.
Investigation Ongoing
Law enforcement utilized automated license plate readers and theft-recovery systems to track Miller post-crime. The Utah Department of Public Safety continues to investigate this alarming case.
