ST. GEORGE — On Thursday, 29-year-old Mia Bailey appeared in court, where competency was discussed after she appealed to the Utah Supreme Court regarding the death penalty.
Bailey, a transgender woman who legally changed her name and gender in 2023, is being held at Purgatory Correctional Facility on nine first-degree felonies and one third-degree felony charge, including two counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder, seven counts of felony discharge of a firearm and one count of aggravated burglary.
The charges were filed following the alleged murder of Joseph and Gail Bailey, who were shot and killed on June 18, 2024, in their home in Washington. On the same night, police said Mia Bailey attempted to shoot one of her brothers who was living at the home.
Bailey was arraigned on the charges during a hearing held June 19. During that hearing, Bailey's defense attorney, Ryan Stout, advised the court that negotiations to resolve the case were still underway.
On June 24, less than a week later, Bailey wrote to appeal the state's decision not to seek the death penalty in the case, a request that was sent to the Utah Supreme Court without her attorney's assistance, according to the court docket.
