Authorities in Utah are continuing to investigate a triple homicide that claimed the lives of three women, including a 34-year-old woman from Easthampton. Investigators say the victims were discovered in separate locations in Wayne County, prompting a multi-state investigation and the arrest of a suspect.
According to the Utah Department of Public Safety, the victims include Natalie Graves, 34, of Easthampton, Massachusetts, and her aunt, Linda Dewey, 65. The two women had traveled to Utah and reportedly went hiking in the south-central desert region.
Family members became concerned when the pair failed to return home as expected. Relatives began searching for them and later located their bodies near a trailhead in Wayne County.
Authorities said the women’s husbands contacted law enforcement on March 4 after discovering the bodies near a trailhead off Teasdale Road and Cocks Comb. During the initial investigation, officers also determined that the hikers’ Subaru Outback had been taken from the area.
Later that same day, investigators located a suspicious vehicle from the nearby town of Lyman abandoned near the trailhead. When officers visited the registered owner’s home in Lyman, they discovered a third victim, identified as 86-year-old Margaret Oldroyd. Officials said she was not related to the other two victims.
As investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the deaths, they identified a potential suspect. Authorities said that several days earlier, on February 28, law enforcement had found an abandoned vehicle belonging to 22-year-old Ivan Miller of Blakesburg, Iowa. Officials said the vehicle had become disabled after striking an elk in Wayne County.
Using an Automated License Plate Reader system and other tracking tools, investigators monitored Miller’s movements as he traveled through southern Utah and into Colorado.
Law enforcement officers eventually located Miller in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where he was taken into custody. Authorities said he was initially arrested on charges including aggravated motor vehicle theft and unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon.
Officials later announced that Miller now faces aggravated murder charges in Utah in connection with the deaths of the three women. According to reports, investigators believe the crimes were connected to the theft of vehicles and credit cards.
Miller appeared in court on March 6, where his attorney said he invoked several constitutional rights and plans to challenge extradition to Utah.
Meanwhile, loved ones are remembering Natalie Graves for her professional and community contributions. She studied at the University of Utah and worked at the Huntsman Cancer Institute as part of a cancer clinical trials team. She also served on the board of the Northampton Community Arts Trust.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to gather more details about the events leading up to the case. What additional steps should authorities take to help prevent crimes in remote recreation areas like this? Share your thoughts below.
