An Ivins man who allegedly shot and killed his wife after she told him she was leaving him was charged with murder Monday.
Steven Timothy Smith, 59, was charged in 5th District Court with murder, a first-degree felony.
Washington County police officers responded to reports of a gunshot at a home in Ivins on Friday and found a victim who had sustained several gunshot wounds. The victim was declared dead at the scene.
According to court documents, the first person who reported the incident to the police said that Smith had “shot his wife after being told that she was leaving him.”
A witness reported hearing the shots and entered into the house to find the victim unresponsive and the suspect walking into another room. The witness saw a handgun that belonged to Smith with the slide locked back sitting on the cabinet.
The witness fought with Smith, who stated that “I’m done, I have nothing else.”
Smith told police that he was angry with the victim. He admitted to leaving the residence to withdraw a large sum of money, but provided no reason for taking it out. He told anyone who was not family to leave the residence.
When the officers arrived, Smith said he didn’t remember what happened between the time he told the non-family members to leave and the officers arrived on scene. Officers found the cash in his bedroom.
Police found a gun hidden in a closet in the suspect’s bedroom. The grip had blood on it.
Officers booked the suspect into Washington County jail, where he is being held without bail.
— Tribune reporter Rebekah Wahlberg contributed to this story.
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 the Utah Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis Line, 1-888-421-1100. For emergencies, call 911.
