Iowa Man Arrested for Murder Spree Across Utah and Colorado, Killing Three Women

A man from Iowa was taken into custody following a rampage that led to a killing spree on Thursday, 5 March in Utah.

​Ivan Miller is facing three counts of aggravated murder for the deaths of three women in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, authorities confirmed. The 22-year-old man from Blakesburg, Iowa, reportedly murdered the women, whom he didn't know, at random, before taking their cars and credit cards as he had to head back to Iowa. He was in possession of a handgun and a knife at the time of his arrest.

​When speaking to FBI agents, Miller said he was compelled to commit the crimes, though he was not pleased in doing it, saying, 'It had to be done,' as noted in the charging documents and shared by The Independent.

One of the victims, an 80-year-old woman, was found dead in her home in Lyman, Wayne County, Utah, while the other two were found dead in the Cockscomb Trail at the Capitol Reef National Park near State Route 12 in Torrey, Utah.​

During a press conference on Thursday, Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Cameron Roden said the two victims were found by their husbands and called it in to dispatch on Wednesday night. A questionable vehicle, a 2022 white Subaru Outback, was located near the site, and evidence led authorities to the location of the third victim.​

Police said the vehicle was tracked from southern Utah through Arizona, and then Colorado, per ABC News. Utah DPS said it was eventually found in Pagosa Springs, and the suspect was immediately taken into custody.

Details of the Events

​According to the FBI, the suspect allegedly got rid of his own truck by selling it to a towing company after hitting an elk in Utah in the days leading to the incident. He then decided he had to find a new vehicle to go back to Iowa.

​He allegedly slept in the storage shed of the victim in her 80s and witnessed the woman leave her residence in a Buick LeSabre. When she came back, the suspect fired from behind as the woman was watching TV. He allegedly proceeded to drag the woman's body to a basement nearby before driving away in the woman's vehicle.

​When he determined the vehicle was not to his liking, he decided to find another one, at which point he spotted two women getting out of a white Subaru at a trailhead. According to the charging documents, Miller shot one of the women dead and then stabbed the other after shooting her with his handgun as well.

​The suspect said his actions were driven by his desire to go back to Iowa. 'Miller said he did it because he needed money. Miller said that he took their credit cards and used the older woman's card to buy gas. Miller said that his intent was to get back to Iowa,' according to the document.

​No relationship between the three victims has been established, according to police. Their identities have yet to be released to the public, though investigators have stated they believe they are in their 30s to 80s.

The FBI Offers Assistance

​The FBI Salt Lake City field office rep confirmed knowledge of the incident and has stated that they are ready to be of assistance should local law enforcement partners seek help. They said they are 'prepared to assist our law enforcement partners, if requested.'

Moreover, counties remained on high alert during the investigation, and the community was advised to be extra careful. Authorities have since concluded there is no further risk to the community following the arrest of the perpetrator, whom police believe was acting alone. The Wayne County School District also said classes were suspended on Thursday and Friday.