Two Women Killed on Scenic Hike in Utah; Suspect Charged in Triple Murder

Two women described by their family as inseparable were shot dead while hiking in what loved ones called “one of their favourite places on earth.”

Linda Dewey, 65, and her niece Natalie Graves, 34, were found dead at the Cockscomb Trailhead near Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. Authorities say the pair were killed in a random attack.

Forensics investigate the scene where the two hikers were discovered on a trail path near Capitol Reef National Park in Utah (Picture: AP)

A third victim, 86-year-old Margaret Oldroyd, was discovered dead inside her home in Lyman, Utah.

Police have arrested Ivan W. Miller in connection with all three deaths. He has been charged with three counts of murder.

Miller was initially held in Colorado before being returned to Utah, according to local outlet KSL News.

Family tribute

In a statement, the victims’ family paid tribute to Dewey and Graves, describing Dewey as a “deeply loved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister,” while Graves was remembered as “joy, sunshine and beauty embodied.”

The statement read:

“Our family is dealing with the shock of the devastating loss of two members of our family who were bonding over the beauty of a hike in one of their favourite places on earth — cherished by them and the community, considered to be a safe sanctuary.

They were murdered. We cannot comprehend why this happened.

We need time to mourn, love each other and be with our family and friends.

We are at a loss for words that can describe what we are feeling and cannot publicly express our sadness and devastation at this time.”

Alleged sequence of events

According to court documents, investigators believe Miller stayed overnight in a shed behind Oldroyd’s home before entering the house.

He allegedly shot Oldroyd in the back of the head while she was watching television, hid her body in the basement, and drove away in her Buick LeSabre.

Authorities say Miller later abandoned the vehicle after deciding he did not want it.

Soon after, he encountered Dewey and Graves on the hiking trail and allegedly shot them with the intention of stealing their car.

The two women were later found by their partners.

Arrest across state lines

Investigators tracked the suspect using license plate reader technology. The vehicle was traced from southern Utah through northern Arizona and into Colorado.

Law enforcement officers in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, located the abandoned vehicle and arrested Miller after a brief search.

In a statement, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office said:

“The suspect of a triple homicide in Wayne County, Utah, is in custody early Thursday morning after investigators tracked him in one of the victims’ vehicles.

The vehicle was tracked through southern Utah into northern Arizona and eventually into Colorado. Colorado law enforcement located the vehicle abandoned in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, and after a brief search, took the individual into custody without incident.”

The investigation remains ongoing.