Triple Murder Suspect Caught in Colorado After Women Found Dead in Utah Trail and Home

A 22-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering three women in two remote towns in Utah. On March 4, two of the women were found dead after they went hiking on a trail in Torrey, while a third victim, an elderly woman, was killed in her home in Lyman.

The news of the murders sparked fear among residents, and law enforcement officials initiated a manhunt to find the suspect. On the morning of March 5, Iowa native Ivan Miller was taken into custody in Colorado on suspicion of the killings.

According to court documents, Miller allegedly admitted to the triple homicide. Utah officials said the accused left Iowa in his truck for a trip to Utah about two and a half weeks ago. However, his truck broke down near Lyman after hitting an elk. Miller then sold the damaged vehicle to a towing company, leaving him stranded in the town.

He ran out of money after staying for several days in a hotel. He then spent a night inside an elderly woman’s shed. During the day, he noticed the homeowner leaving the property and entered her home. When she returned, Miller allegedly shot her in the back of her head. The victim was later identified as 86-year-old Margaret Oldroyd.

Investigators said Miller stole Oldroyd’s Buick Regal but was looking for a better vehicle. As he reached a hiking trail in Torrey, he saw two women, 34-year-old Natalie Graves and 65-year-old Linda Dewey, getting out of a Subaru Outback. Miller allegedly shot both of them and also stabbed Dewey as she continued to move, investigators said.

Investigators said Miller took off in the Subaru after dumping the women's bodies in a ditch. When the women did not return from their hiking trip, their husbands became concerned and began searching for them. They later discovered the bodies in the ditch and contacted the police.

Authorities soon learned of a third victim in Lyman, expanding the scope of the investigation. Meanwhile, schools and businesses in the town were closed as police searched for the suspect. The husband of one of the women who owned the Subaru helped investigators track the vehicle using a mobile phone app.

The car was eventually located in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Although Miller had abandoned the vehicle, authorities were able to locate and arrest him. They also found a handgun and a knife inside the car. Miller has been charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated murder.

“Colorado law enforcement located the vehicle abandoned in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and after a brief search, took the individual into custody without incident. There are no ongoing threats to the public, and investigators have no outstanding suspects,” the Utah Department of Public Safety said in a statement.

Miller is currently held in Colorado, where his court hearing is scheduled for March 6. The accused will later be transferred to Utah. Court documents have revealed that Miller allegedly committed the crime because he needed money. He had no connection to any of the three victims.

Also, this is not the first time that he has been arrested. Earlier in December 2025, Miller was accused of barging into a cabin at Lake Wapello State Park, Iowa. He was charged with burglary, theft, and possession of drugs, but was released on a promise to appear before a court.