Torrey, Utah – A quiet stretch of southern Utah has been shattered by a series of killings that have left three women dead and a 22-year-old Iowa man, Ivan Miller, in custody. The victims – Linda Dewey, 65, Natalie Graves, 34, and Margaret Oldroyd, 86 – were allegedly targeted by Miller during a trip across multiple states, culminating in his arrest in Colorado. The case, which began with a missing persons report for two hikers and escalated with the discovery of an elderly woman’s body, has sent shockwaves through the close-knit communities of Wayne County, Utah, and beyond.
The initial alarm was raised when Linda Dewey and Natalie Graves, an aunt and niece from Utah, failed to return from a hike near Torrey, Utah, on Wednesday. A search quickly ensued, and their bodies were discovered, triggering a manhunt that spanned Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Authorities soon connected the deaths of Dewey and Graves to the fatal shooting of Margaret Oldroyd in Lyman, Utah, a few towns over. The motive, according to court documents, appears to be robbery, with Miller allegedly admitting to the killings because he needed money. The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of opportunistic violence, leaving investigators and the public grappling with the senselessness of the crimes.
A Hiking Trip Turns Tragic
Linda Dewey and Natalie Graves were described by family as enjoying a bonding experience in a place they cherished. “They 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,” a family spokesperson said in a statement, as reported by NBC News. The women were reportedly hiking in the area of Capitol Reef National Park, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The discovery of their bodies brought a wave of grief and disbelief to the region.
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