Layton man pleads guilty in triple murder of wife, in-laws
Photo supplied, Layton Police Department via Twitter
A triple homicide is being investigated at a home in Layton, police said Friday, May 19, 2023.FARMINGTON — The Layton man charged with killing his wife and the woman’s father and stepmother last May has pleaded guilty in the matter and will potentially face life in prison without the possibility of parole.
As part of a plea deal with Davis County prosecutors, Jeremy Bailey, 34, pleaded guilty on Thursday to three counts of aggravated murder, a first-degree felony, in the shooting deaths of his wife, Anastasia Stevens, 36, and in-laws, Donald and Rebecca Stevens, 73 and 61, respectively. The incident occurred May 19 in the Layton home Bailey shared with his wife.
Five other counts were dismissed, including two counts of felony discharge of a gun and three counts of torture of a companion animal in the shooting deaths of three dogs in the house at the time of the incident.
Court papers state that the two sides agreed to consecutive sentences in the three counts of life without the possibility of parole as part of the plea deal, though the judge in the case will make the final determination. Sentencing is set for Dec. 12.
Aggravated murder is potentially a capital offense if prosecutors file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty, but no such document was filed in the case.
The spur behind the killings remains unclear. An affidavit filed after Bailey was charged states that one of the victims had contacted a therapist earlier in the day of the killings indicating potential problems.
“I think we may have a very real problem. So I uncovered the (mega) load of his shady s–. And it’s really bad. Like scary. I think it may be time for legal interference I know I definitely need to find an attorney and He’s still at the house so I can’t talk,” reads the message in the affidavit.
In his statement, Bailey recounts the killings in matter-of-fact form, without explanation.
He states that on May 19, “I retrieved a handgun, went into our bedroom and shot Anastasia. Anastasia fell to the ground but was not dead, as she was crying out I shot her a second time, causing her death.”
He goes on, saying he immediately shot and killed Rebecca Stevens and then Donald Stevens, who were also in the house.
“After shooting Anastasia, I immediately turned and shot Rebecca Stevens multiple times, causing her death. After shooting Rebecca, I immediately turned to the bedroom and shot Donald Stevens, causing his death,” the statement reads.
