We may never truly understand why people commit heinous acts of violence against others. Most people don’t resort to killing others just to get something they want but find more reasonable solutions to their problems. Sadly, some kill to get their way, and the families of their victims live with the pain of loss forever. Ivan Miller, a 22-year-old man from Iowa, allegedly went on a killing spree in Utah. He apparently needed a car and some money, and his three victims had what he needed. Police apprehended Miller in Colorado days later, and what he told police about the crimes might make you sick.
According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, Miller crashed his car into an elk on February 28, 2026, then checked into the Snuggle Inn in Wayne County.
“He hit an elk on SR-24 and was then brought in by Brian Auto Towing of Loa –as they frequently do when people unfortunately hit deer, elk, black cows or when rental cars break down– to Monday, March 2, after he appeared to walk away from our premises during the early morning hours. Then, apparently, within days, allegedly committed heinous crimes in our community,” the hotel shared on Facebook.
Per a news release from Utah Department of Public Safety, the Wayne County Emergency Communications Center received a call that the husbands of Linda Dewey, 65, and Natalie Graves, 34, found their wives dead near Teasdale Road and Cocks Comb on March 4. Hours later, police found the body of 86-year-old Margaret Oldroyd. As investigators began to piece together details, they realized the crimes were related.
According to court documents obtained by CBS News, police arrested Miller in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, on March 5. The alleged killer told police he traveled to Utah and stayed in a shed in Lyman the night before he killed Oldroyd. He admitted to shooting her in the head and stealing her Buick, “but he did not like the car and wanted to find a different vehicle.”
Miller reportedly said he drove to the trailhead, where he saw Dewey and her niece, Graves, get out of a white Subaru Outback. He approached the women and stabbed and shot them to death. Miller said he dragged the women into a ditch and then stole their credit cards, CBS News reported.
He headed to Colorado and stopped at a Pagosa Springs gas station to fuel up, per the outlet. Miller reportedly ditched the car when he saw police and thought he’d get away. Investigators quickly connected him to the crimes through automated license plate readers and the car’s theft recovery tracking system.
The Dewey and Graves families issued a statement obtained by KSL regarding the killings.
“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 favorite places on Earth — cherished by them and the community, considered to be a safe sanctuary. They were murdered. We cannot comprehend why this happened,” the families shared.
Miller, who faces three charges of aggravated murder, allegedly told police “he did not like” killing the women, but he needed the money. If convicted, Miller could face the death penalty.
