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Colin Jeffery “CJ” Haynie was 16 when he shot and killed his mom and three of his siblings. Haynie, now 20, will probably be sentenced Wednesday. Household photograph
A Grantsville man who was 16 when he shot and killed his mom and three of his siblings of their dwelling deliberate to kill his complete household and burn his home all the way down to get a "clear slate" and a "new alternative in life," prosecutors stated.
Colin Jeffery "CJ" Haynie, who turned 20 final week, was sentenced to a minimum of 100 years in jail Wednesday. He'll serve 4 consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for every of the murders. He may even serve a concurrent sentence of 25 years to life for the tried homicide of his father, Colin Haynie.
Prosecuting lawyer Scott Broadhead stated Haynie was offended at his father due to arguments they'd had, and had "good" and "wholesome" relationships along with his siblings.
"I assumed if I killed my dad, everybody would flip in opposition to me, so I made a egocentric determination to kill all of them," Haynie stated in a pre-sentence investigation report.
Whereas the crimes shocked the neighborhood, some requested the decide to not lock Haynie up and throw away the important thing.
"(Haynie) is just not a misplaced trigger. He's not incorrigible," Haynie's lawyer Richard A. Van Wagoner stated in a letter submitted to the court docket Monday in preparation for Wednesday's sentencing.
Haynie confronted a compulsory sentence of 25 years to life in jail for every of the 5 counts he was convicted. The problem dealing with the decide was whether or not to order these sentences to run consecutively or concurrently.
Third District Choose Teresa Welch stated that selecting to run the primary 4 costs consecutively was "acceptable given the aggravated circumstances," together with the severity of the crime, variety of victims and "methodic nature" of the act.
Welch stated the selection to run the tried homicide cost concurrently was acceptable based mostly on "mitigating circumstances," together with Haynie's younger age and the progress he is proven throughout his keep in a juvenile detention middle.
On Jan. 17, 2020, Haynie shot and killed his mom and three of his siblings over a five-hour interval as every returned to their dwelling. When his father arrived dwelling, he too was shot within the leg however was capable of wrestle the gun away from his son.
Haynie's mom, Consuelo Alejandra Haynie, 52; sisters Alexis Haynie, 15, and Milan Haynie, 12; and brother Matthew Haynie, 14, have been all murdered. He was charged as an grownup and pleaded responsible on July 19, 2022, to 4 counts of aggravated homicide and one depend of tried aggravated homicide.
Regardless of being charged as an grownup, Haynie has been housed for the previous 3½ years on the Salt Lake Valley Youth Heart. Van Wagoner says being there has vastly benefited his shopper's improvement.
Colin Jeffery “CJ” Haynie was 16 when he shot and killed his mom and three of his siblings. Haynie, now 20, will probably be sentenced Wednesday.
Household photograph
"As a younger teen with impoverished social expertise and talents, a speech obstacle, an nervousness dysfunction, considerably delayed schooling, and a lifetime of relative isolation, (Haynie) responded to and embraced (Utah's Juvenile Justice and Youth Companies) construction, sources and applications administered by a dedicated and caring employees in essentially the most constructive methods," the lawyer's letter states. "(Haynie) has develop into a main instance of the neurological improvement that may come throughout youth, significantly within the areas of self-reflection, perception, empathy, private accountability, coping talents, schooling and social expertise."
Previous to the killings, Haynie had no felony report and didn't do medication. However he suffered from numerous points, "together with extreme nervousness," in accordance with court docket paperwork. He later described to a therapist evaluating him after his arrest "his growing social isolation within the months earlier than January 2020, together with growing arguments and unfulfilled expectations along with his father, which led to additional isolation.
"(Haynie) didn't have a plan however felt the one choice to deal with his scenario was to shoot his father and the remainder of his household; he now sees there after all have been many choices for assist," Van Wagoner's letter continues. "(Haynie) is aware of his clarification is wholly insufficient as a result of there isn't any conceivable excuse or justification for what he did."
However since his incarceration, he has earned his highschool diploma, is taking school programs, and has had no disciplinary motion whereas in detention, the letter states.
"(Haynie), who was socially, emotionally, academically and in any other case mentally youthful than his organic age when he dedicated these horrible crimes, lacked maturity and failed to understand the host of choices accessible to deal with his circumstances at 16 years previous," his lawyer wrote. "Certainly, (Haynie's) character has already progressed considerably as he has transitioned from a youngster to a younger man who remains to be rising, studying and maturing."
Van Wagoner additionally on Monday submitted a number of different letters to the court docket written by neighbors and associates who know the Haynie household.
One man, whom Haynie did yard work for, says Haynie confided to him that he suffered from "extreme nervousness," however didn't inform his father.
"Jeffery was a bit backward in social expertise however had good work ethics and discovered nicely. He discovered nicely and have become higher over time. He listened to recommendation and adopted it. I hope he can have an opportunity later in life possibly to stay a standard life with what has occurred," the person wrote.
One other neighbor, who was near the Haynie household, wrote a letter to the decide describing Haynie as "socially awkward," however stated he all the time appeared to need to do the correct factor.
"Nonetheless, from my perspective, Jeffery was not doing nicely, he did not have the social/emotional instruments to excel within the surroundings he'd been positioned in. It did not appear to be he'd discovered his area of interest, and youngsters could be actually, actually imply. Jeffery was an ideal goal for bullying and teasing, and it did not seem like he'd discovered a gaggle of children that he might flourish inside. I used to be frightened about him," the neighbor wrote. "Add in a strict surroundings at dwelling and extra battle with the household, and Jeffery was descending right into a darker and darker place. The actions Jeffery took on Jan. 17, 2020, are definitely his personal and usually are not excused by any quantity of bullying and teasing in school, or battle at dwelling, but it surely does give some context on the place he was and the place he went.
"Though onerous to consider contemplating the circumstances, Jeffery is an effective child," he said. "I ask for some leniency for this younger man."
Through the ceremony through which Haynie obtained his highschool diploma, he thanked all his lecturers and the employees at Salt Lake Valley Youth Heart.
"I wanted to develop up and develop into a greater individual on this life," he stated in a transcript of his feedback. "And as soon as once more, my everlasting gratitude to all of the employees that works right here or has since labored right here for you. You have given me one thing I've all the time needed, which is associates."