A Utah man was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for the calculated, hours-long 2020 murders of his mother and three siblings, a case that shocked the quiet town of Grantsville. Colin Jeffery “CJ” Haynie, now 20, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to four counts of aggravated murder and one count of attempted aggravated murder, stemming from the January 17, 2020, shooting at his family home.
The crime unfolded over a five-hour period, beginning around 1 p.m. When Haynie allegedly shot his mother, Consuelo Alejandra Haynie, 52 and his 12-year-old sister, Maylan, upon their return from school. According to prosecutors, Haynie used a handgun to shoot them in the head, neck, and/or upper body. He then waited for his 15-year-old sister, Alexis, to come home from school, shooting her between 2 p.m. And 5:17 p.m. His 14-year-old brother, Matthew, was killed shortly after.
The ordeal ended around 6:15 p.m. When Haynie’s father, Colin Haynie, arrived home and was shot in the leg by his son. The father was able to overpower Haynie and seize the weapon, according to court documents. Haynie reportedly confessed to his father at the hospital that “his intention was to kill everyone in the house except himself.”
Third District Judge Teresa Welch sentenced Haynie to 25 years to life in prison for each of the four murder counts, to be served consecutively. The sentence for attempted aggravated murder will run concurrently. The Utah Board of Pardons and Parole will ultimately determine how long Haynie remains in custody and whether his sentence begins in a youth detention center or an adult facility.
Prosecutors characterized the killings as a calculated attack, motivated by Haynie’s growing social isolation, arguments with his father, and dashed expectations. Court documents indicate Haynie felt the shooting was his only way out.
Despite the tragedy, the Haynie family demonstrated remarkable resilience. Danny Haynie, a sibling who was away from home during the shooting, spoke at the family’s funeral, expressing his love for his brother despite the horrific circumstances. “He is part of our family and we all love him,” Danny Haynie said. “We all desire the best for him. Part of me feels like I lost him too but at least he’s still here.” Family photographs were prominently displayed at the funeral service.
Colin Haynie, the father, spoke of finding solace in remembering happier times with his wife and children, and believing their spirits lived on. Four coffins, adorned with flowers, occupied the front of the church – white for Consuelo Alejandra Haynie and Matthew, and white with purple accents for Alexis and Maylan.
A crowdfunding campaign launched to support the family exceeded its goal, raising over £78,000 to cover medical bills and funeral expenses. The town of Grantsville, with a population of 11,568 as of 2018, had not seen a murder in nearly 20 years prior to the incident.
