Layton man charged in killings of his wife, in-laws, family dogs

A 34-year-old Layton man was charged Thursday in the killings of his wife, in-laws and three family dogs, according to court documents.

Jeremy Bailey called 911 at about 9:45 a.m. on May 19 to tell dispatchers that about 20 minutes earlier, he had killed his wife, Anastasia Stevens, 36; Anastasia’s stepmother, Becky Stevens, 61; and Anastasia’s father, Donald Stevens, 73, according to a probable cause statement.

Prosectors believe Bailey actually killed his wife and in-laws earlier that morning, and that after he shot them, he left the home to purchase a box of 9mm hollow point ammunition, charging documents state.

Video surveillance discovered by police showed Bailey purchasing the ammunition just after 9 a.m., according to court documents. He then returned home, posted about the killings on Stevens’ Facebook profile, then called 911, prosecutors say.

Bailey told dispatchers he “was thinking of doing this” a few days prior to the killings, so he had surrendered his guns to a friend on May 17. However, Bailey also told dispatchers that he had forgotten about a gun that belonged to one of the victims — and that was the weapon he was armed with, according to a court documents.

Autopsies showed that Stevens’ and her stepmother had been shot twice, and Stevens’ father was shot once, charging documents state. Friends described Stevens as “selfless,” and said her dogs were “her life.”

While in a holding cell in Davis County, Bailey said “I can’t believe I did it,” and also asked police if they thought the killings would “hit the news,” court documents state.

Bailey was charged with three counts of aggravated murder enhanced by domestic violence, which is a capital offense, according to court documents. He was also charged with two counts of discharging of a firearm with serious bodily injury and three counts of torture of a companion animal.

Bailey was booked into Davis County jail hours after he called police about the killings. He is being held without bail, according to court filings.

Stevens’ family set up a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for funeral expenses, which had raised more than $4,800 as of Thursday afternoon.

Editor’s note • Those who are experiencing intimate partner violence, or know someone who is, are urged to call the Utah Domestic Violence Link Line, 1-800-897-LINK (5465), or Utah’s 24-hour Sexual Violence Help Line at 801-736-4356 (English) or 801-924-0860 (Spanish).

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