Two weeks after his wife filed for divorce, a 42-year-old Utah man fatally shot seven members of his family, including his mother, wife, and five children, who ranged in age from 4 to 17. He then pulled the trigger on himself, according to officials.
According to newly released court documents, the man conducted online searches on how loud certain guns sound and whether neighbors could hear gunshots five days before the deaths.
Who is Michael Haight ?
Authorities in Enoch City on Thursday named 42-year-old Michael Haight as the alleged shooter in the murder-suicide, along with his wife Tausha Haight, 40, their three daughters, ages 17, 12, and 7, and two sons, ages 7 and 4.
According to a statement from the Enoch City administration, Gail Earl, Tausha Haight’s mother, who was 78 years old, was also murdered. Each person appears to have sustained gunshot wounds.
On December 21, wife Tausha filed for divorce from Michael, according to court papers, but it was not immediately clear why she wanted to end their relationship.
After hearing from worried family and friends who had not been able to contact the victims, police dispatched officers to investigate on the Haight family’s wellbeing on Wednesday.
Police on Albert Drive discovered all eight family members deceased inside their house. According to a press release from authorities, “At this time, we do not believe there is a threat to the public or that there are any suspects at large.”
Although he was listed as an Allstate Insurance agent working out of Cedar City, Utah, a family acquaintance claimed that Michael Haight had quit his position just days prior to the massacre.
