Officials: Utah family killings were a murder-suicide

By Sam Metz | Related Press

ENOCH, Utah — A 42-year-old man killed seven relations, together with 5 youngsters, then killed himself, authorities stated Thursday, and the person’s spouse had filed for divorce two weeks earlier.

Officers within the metropolis of Enoch stated Michael Haight, 42, killed his spouse, mother-in-law and the couple’s 5 youngsters. Every of the victims appeared to have gunshot wounds, officers stated.

Court docket data present the spouse had filed for divorce on Dec. 21.

Police despatched officers to test on the household Wednesday after household and buddies contacted officers as a result of they have been frightened and had not heard from the victims. Officers discovered the victims inside the house.

The kids ranged in age from 4 to 17 and included three ladies and two boys, authorities stated. The opposite victims have been Tausha Haight, 40, and her 78-year-old mom, Gail Earl.

“Right now, we don’t imagine there’s a risk to the general public or that there are any suspects at giant,” officers stated in a press launch.

Enoch is a small city of about 8,000 individuals situated 245 miles (394 kilometers) south of Salt Lake Metropolis and about equally distant from Las Vegas.

The house the place the victims have been discovered was adorned with Christmas lights and situated in a neighborhood of newly constructed single-family homes on a ridge overlooking the farming neighborhood of Enoch. It has a view of homes with snow-covered roofs and mountains within the distance. Half of the encompassing block was cordoned off by police tape.

Enoch is on the outskirts of Cedar Metropolis – one of many quickest rising cities in Utah, which is likely one of the U.S.’s quickest rising states. Cattle and sheep line the freeway that runs via the city, together with indicators for “Customized New Houses” and promoting close by leisure actions southern Utah’s purple rock-rich parks are identified for.

Enoch Metropolis Supervisor Rob Dotson stated the neighborhood was despatched reeling by information of the eight our bodies and that the deceased — all members of 1 household — have been well-known within the city.

In most of Utah, the predominant faith is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, identified extensively because the Mormon church.

“Many people have served with them in church, in the neighborhood and gone to highschool with these people,” Dotson stated Wednesday night time. “This neighborhood right now is hurting. They’re feeling loss, they’re feeling ache they usually have a number of questions.”

“All of us can pray that their households and the neighbors and all will come to an understanding of what occurred on this place, in all probability in a day or two, or perhaps longer,” he stated.

The 5 youngsters attended colleges within the Iron County College District, officers stated in a letter despatched to oldsters.

Enoch, off Interstate 15 in rural Utah, simply north of the town of Cedar Metropolis and about 80 miles (128 kilometers) west of Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park, had main flooding in 2021 that broken a whole bunch of houses.