Tragic Loss on the Trail: Three Women Vanish in Utah

A sudden tragedy struck a beloved hiking spot in Wayne County when 65‑year‑old Linda Dewey and her 34‑year‑old niece, Natalie Graves, were found dead near the Cockscomb Trailhead. The victims had been enjoying a familiar path that offered sweeping views of Utah’s dramatic cliffs when an unknown man intercepted them. Police later linked the murders to 22‑year‑old Ivan W. Miller, who had recently survived an elk collision in Loa and was said to have stayed at a local hotel after the incident. Miller’s criminal record shows no prior ties to any of the victims, yet investigators discovered his presence at the homes and on the trails where the killings occurred.Miller’s alleged motive was a desire for a vehicle. After murdering 86‑year‑old Margaret Oldroyd in her Lyman home—where he allegedly waited behind a door, shot her, and then stole her car—he chased the stolen vehicle to the trailhead. There he shot Graves first, then fired twice at Dewey before stabbing her multiple times. The bodies were discovered by the women’s husbands after they failed to return home, prompting police to trace the stolen car via license‑plate readers. The vehicle traveled through Bicknell, Farmington, New Mexico and Pagosa Springs, Colorado before being abandoned; Miller was apprehended without incident in that area. The community is coping with the shock of losing three cherished women. The county’s administration has offered counseling at local schools and health centers, urging residents to support one another. Families of the victims have requested privacy but will hold a memorial at the trailhead to honor their loved ones.