LAYTON, Utah (TCD) — A judge sentenced a man to three life sentences in prison and said the man’s life has been “spared” after he pleaded guilty to killing his wife, in-laws, and three dogs this year.
KSL.com reports Jeremy Bailey was initially charged with capital murder but pleaded guilty in October to three counts of aggravated murder for the deaths of 34-year-old Anastasia Stevens, 61-year-old Becky Stevens, and 73-year-old Donald Stevens. Prosecutors argued Bailey “point-blank executed” his wife and “executed” Becky Stevens and Donald Stevens.
Following the shooting, Bailey went to a store to purchase more ammunition.
On May 19 at 9:45 a.m., Bailey called the Layton Police Department and confessed to killing the three victims. Officers arrived and took him into custody outside his home on Gentile Street. Police said Anastasia Stevens and Bailey lived in the residence, and her parents were visiting from Nevada.
According to KTVX-TV, Bailey said there would be a “murder-suicide” at the home. Bailey also went on his wife’s Facebook page and wrote, “MASSACRE SUICIDE Jeremy Bailey JUST KILLED EVERYONE Becky Stevens Don Stevens AND 3 OF THE 4 DOGS 1832 EAST GENTILE STREET LAYTON.”
One of the three victims reportedly texted a therapist and said they thought they “may have a very real problem” because they found something out and it was “really bad.”
“It might be time for legal interference,” the text reportedly said, but it was not clear what they were referring to.
Bailey reportedly had been thinking about the shooting for several days beforehand.
When he got arrested, Bailey reportedly said he would want the death penalty over life in prison and inquired if the state still used a firing squad as a form of execution.
KSL.com reports Judge Michael DiReda told Bailey at the sentencing hearing, “Your life has been spared. You were extended mercy that you were unwilling to extend to your wife and her parents.”
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