Utah man accused of killing wife, in-laws, and 3 family dogs
05/23/2023 2:06 pm PDT
LAYTON, Utah (TCD) -- Police arrested a man last week on suspicion of fatally shooting his wife and in-laws and telling law enforcement officials he committed the crime.
According to a news release from the Layton City Police Department, on Friday, May 19, at approximately 9:45 a.m., officers receeved a call from 34-year-old Jeremy Bailey, who told authorities he had "just killed his wife, mother-in-law, and father-in-law."
KTVX-TV reports that around the same time he called dispatchers, Bailey posted on his wife's Facebook account and wrote, "MASSACRE SUICIDE Jeremy Bailey JUST KILLED EVERYONE Becky Stevens Don Stevens AND 3 OF THE 4 DOGS 1832 EAST GENTILE STREET LAYTON."
Officers subsequently responded to the residence on the 1800 block of East Gentile Street as Bailey stayed on the line with dispatchers. Inside the home, officers found the three deceased victims, Bailey's wife, 36-year-old Anastasia Stevens, his mother-in-law, 61-year-old Becky Stevens, and father-in-law, 73-year-old Donald Stevens.
Bailey and his wife reportedly lived at the home where the alleged triple homicide occurred, and his in-laws were visiting from Nevada. In addition to the three victims, police said Bailey allegedly killed three family dogs.
During an interview, Bailey reportedly told officials he stashed firearms in a friend’s garage and was "thinking of doing this a few days ago." On the day of the shooting, he allegedly located one of the victim's guns and bought ammunition at approximately 9 a.m.
While he was in custody, Police reportedly heard Bailey say in an "excited" way, "I can’t believe I did it." Bailey also allegedly said he would prefer the death penalty via fire squad over a life sentence.
Police arrested Bailey, and he was booked into the Davis County Jail on charges of aggravated murder, discharge of firearm, and aggravated cruelty to animals. He remains held without bail.
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