Authorities say the victims were discovered at multiple scenes in Wayne County, triggering a multi-state manhunt.
TORREY, UT — A suspect is in custody after three women were found dead at two locations in rural Wayne County, Utah, on Wednesday, launching a multi-state search that ended with the man’s arrest in Colorado early Thursday, officials said.
Authorities say the deaths appear connected and are being investigated as a triple homicide spanning multiple crime scenes in the sparsely populated county near Capitol Reef National Park. Two of the victims were discovered on a hiking trail Wednesday afternoon, while a third woman was later found dead inside a nearby residence. Investigators say the suspect fled the area after the killings, prompting an extensive search across several states before he was captured.
Emergency dispatchers received the first report Wednesday afternoon when two women were found dead along a hiking trail in Wayne County. The discovery triggered an immediate response from local deputies and state investigators who began securing the scene and searching the surrounding area. During the investigation, authorities identified another possible crime scene at a residence in the town of Lyman, several miles away. When officers arrived there, they found a third woman dead inside the home.
Investigators believe the woman inside the residence may have been killed earlier than the two victims found on the trail, though officials have not yet confirmed the exact timeline of the killings. The victims’ identities have not been publicly released while authorities work to notify family members. Officials said the women were believed to be in their 30s, 60s and 80s.
As investigators worked to piece together the events, law enforcement agencies issued alerts to residents across central and southern Utah, warning them to remain cautious and report suspicious activity. Schools and some government offices in nearby communities closed as a precaution while authorities searched for a suspect believed to have left the county in a vehicle connected to one of the victims.
Investigators tracked the suspect’s movements through southern Utah and into neighboring states as the search intensified. Authorities say the suspect traveled through northern Arizona before eventually reaching Colorado. Law enforcement officers in Colorado later located the vehicle abandoned in the town of Pagosa Springs.
After locating the vehicle, officers conducted a search of the area and found the suspect nearby. Officials said he was taken into custody without incident early Thursday morning. Authorities have not yet detailed how investigators linked the suspect to the killings or whether he had a known relationship with any of the victims.
At the time of the arrest, the suspect was reportedly found carrying a concealed firearm and a large knife, according to law enforcement statements following the capture. Officials said the man is currently being held in Colorado and is expected to face court proceedings there before being extradited to Utah.
During the hours when the suspect was still at large, local authorities urged residents across Wayne County and neighboring areas to remain indoors and secure their homes. Law enforcement agencies from multiple counties joined the search effort, coordinating road checks and patrols across remote highways that run through the region’s desert terrain.
Wayne County is one of Utah’s least populated counties, with small towns separated by long stretches of rural land and national park areas. The county includes the gateway community of Torrey and lies near popular tourist destinations such as Capitol Reef National Park, where hiking trails draw visitors from around the country.
Investigators say multiple crime scenes are still being processed, and evidence teams continue to examine both the hiking trail area and the residence where the third victim was found. Officials have not yet released details about how the victims died or whether additional evidence has been recovered linking the suspect to the locations.
Authorities also have not announced a possible motive, and investigators say it remains unclear what connection, if any, the suspect had to the victims. Officials said determining how the three killings are related is a key focus of the ongoing investigation.
Law enforcement leaders said the arrest means there is no longer an ongoing threat to the public, and officials confirmed that investigators are not searching for any additional suspects at this time.
Prosecutors are expected to begin the process of filing formal charges once the suspect is transferred to Utah. Officials said more information about the victims, the suspect, and the sequence of events leading up to the deaths will likely be released as the investigation progresses and court proceedings begin.
Authorities said investigators plan to provide further updates as evidence is processed and the suspect moves through the extradition and charging process in the coming days.
Author note: Last updated March 5, 2026.