Utah Murder Spree: Man Claims Random Killings 'Had to Be Done'
Prosecutors have detailed a chilling murder spree in Utah, where a man allegedly killed three women at random while callously claiming the acts "had to be done." Ivan Miller, a 22-year-old from Blakesburg, Iowa, faces three counts of aggravated murder for the Wednesday afternoon attacks near Capitol Reef National Park, located approximately three hours south of Salt Lake City.
A Trail of Violence and Theft
According to charging documents obtained by KSL, Miller's alleged rampage began when he shot an elderly woman in her 80s in the back of the head as she watched television in her Lyman home. His motive was to steal her Buick vehicle. However, court filings indicate Miller "did not like the car" and soon sought a replacement.
Prosecutors state that after parking the stolen Buick, Miller approached two female hikers—friends in their 30s and 60s—at the Cockscomb Trail. He allegedly shot the younger woman in the chest, then shot the older woman twice before stabbing her multiple times in the heart when she continued moving. Miller then dragged both victims to a ditch and stole their white Subaru.
Confession and Motive
Miller confessed to the killings, telling investigators that while he did not enjoy committing them, they "had to be done." He claimed to have been stranded in Utah without transportation after crashing into an elk and selling his damaged truck to a tow company. His alleged intent was to steal vehicles and credit cards to facilitate his return to Iowa.
"Miller said that he took their credit cards and used the older woman's card to buy gas," the court documents revealed. "Miller said that his intent was to get back to Iowa."
Investigation and Arrest
The investigation unfolded after the husbands of the two hikers alerted law enforcement when their wives failed to return home. Authorities discovered the abandoned Buick nearby, which led them to the elderly victim's brick home in Lyman, now cordoned off for evidence collection.
Using license plate readers and vehicle tracking services, police followed Miller from Utah through northern Arizona to Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where he was arrested early Thursday. He was found with a knife and a .45 caliber pistol after abandoning the stolen Subaru.
Legal Proceedings and Prior Charges
Miller is scheduled for his first court appearance Friday afternoon in Archuleta County, Colorado, with expected extradition to Utah thereafter. Notably, he was already due in an Iowa courtroom the same day on unrelated charges, including theft, burglary, marijuana possession, and being ineligible to carry a firearm.
Those charges stem from a December incident at Lake Wapello State Park in Davis County, Iowa, where a park ranger found Miller inside a cabin with a fully loaded bolt-action rifle and a Diamondback AR-10 .308. Miller admitted to picking the lock days earlier to seek warmth.
The victims' identities have not been publicly released by police, but locals honored the women by hanging pink ribbons from a fence on Thursday. The Colorado Public Defender's Office, representing Miller, has been contacted for comment.
