A 22-year-old man has been arrested in Colorado after authorities linked him to the deaths of three women in rural Utah — a shocking case that triggered a sweeping manhunt and left an entire community on edge.

Officials say Ivan Miller, of Blakesburg, Iowa, was taken into custody Thursday in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, after investigators tracked him across multiple states using a vehicle believed to belong to one of the victims. The Utah Department of Public Safety said the car was followed from southern Utah into northern Arizona before eventually being located abandoned in Colorado.

After a short search of the area, law enforcement officers found Miller and arrested him without incident.

Authorities say the arrest brings an end to the urgent search that had unfolded across Wayne County, Utah, where the victims were discovered. Officials confirmed there are no additional suspects and no ongoing threat to the public.

The investigation began Wednesday afternoon when authorities received a report of two women found dead along a hiking trail in Wayne County, a sparsely populated region known for its stunning landscapes and outdoor recreation. The county sits roughly 200 miles south of Salt Lake City and draws thousands of hikers and tourists each year due to its proximity to Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park and Fishlake National Forest.

As investigators began processing the trail scene, a third victim was discovered inside a nearby residence in the same county.

Authorities say the victims ranged in age from their 30s to their 80s. Their identities have not yet been released, and officials have not disclosed how the women died. The Utah Department of Public Safety has described the case as an active homicide investigation.

The disturbing discoveries immediately sparked a large law enforcement response. Residents were urged to remain vigilant and take safety precautions, including staying home when possible and locking doors.

The search also disrupted daily life in the small community. Several public facilities temporarily shut down during the manhunt, including the Wayne Community Health Center, Kazan Memorial Clinic and the county courthouse. Schools across the Wayne County School District closed for the remainder of the week, and officials said counselors will be available for students when classes resume.

Investigators from the Utah State Bureau of Investigation and the Utah Crime Lab are now processing multiple crime scenes in the towns of Lyman and Torrey as they work to piece together what happened.

While the suspect is now in custody, many questions remain unanswered — including the motive behind the killings and whether the suspect had any connection to the victims.

For residents of Wayne County, a quiet area known more for scenic hikes than violent crime, the case has shaken the community. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing as detectives continue gathering evidence and working to understand the circumstances surrounding the deaths.