WASHINGTON, UT – Shock gripped this southern Utah community after prosecutors announced that Mia Bailey, 29, has pleaded guilty but mentally ill in the killings of her parents and the attempted murder of her brother. The violence inside a quiet family home in June left two dead and left prosecutors calling the attack one of the area’s most distressing recent crimes.
Court documents show Bailey admitted to two counts of aggravated murder and one count of aggravated assault in a plea agreement revealed this week by the Washington County Attorney’s Office. Bailey originally faced a total of ten felony charges, including aggravated attempted murder and aggravated burglary.
The events unfolded on June 18, as Joseph Bailey, 70, and his wife, Gail, 69, were at home alongside other family members. According to authorities, Mia Bailey walked in, shot her mother as she watched television, and then proceeded to the master bedroom, where she fired multiple times at her father. Bailey’s brother and his wife were also inside the house. Bailey later allegedly fired at her brother, who ran to a neighbor’s residence to summon police.
Investigators say Bailey did not attempt to cover up the attack. In statements to officers, she allegedly expressed animosity toward her parents and admitted shooting them multiple times to ensure their deaths.
The incident immediately triggered a manhunt, with law enforcement warning the public about Mia Bailey’s whereabouts. Police said Bailey, formerly known as Colin Bailey, was undergoing a gender transition and might change appearance with wigs or different clothing, complicating identification during the search.
Records show Bailey had legally changed her name and gender just days before the fatal shooting. The Bailey family had previously experienced serious tensions—court filings indicate that her brother unsuccessfully sought a protective order against her shortly before the crime.
Authorities located Bailey the morning after the shootings near a wooded area. After brief negotiations, Bailey surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody.
Prosecutors decided within days that they would not pursue the death penalty in this case. A sentencing hearing for Bailey has been set for December 19.
In the aftermath of the killings, friends and relatives rallied around the surviving members of the Bailey family, launching fundraising efforts to support Joseph and Gail’s grandchildren. Advocates noted that the children lost not only their home but also the stability of their family life.
Officials have not disclosed a motive for the attack, but court documents and preliminary hearings suggested longstanding familial conflict may have contributed to the tragedy. The community continues to process the shock, as loved ones and neighbors await the final chapter in the criminal proceedings.