A TEENAGER has admitted brutally murdering his mother and three siblings after haunting details of the attack emerged.
Colin “CJ” Haynie was just 16 at the time of the gruesome attack at their home in Grantsville, Utah, in January 2020.
3
3
The teenager's victims were his mom Consuelo Alejandra Haynie, 52, and siblings Alexis, 15, Mathew 14, and Maylan, 12.
His dad Colin L. Haynie, was shot in the leg during the attack but survived after he wrestled the handgun away from the teen.
His brother Danny Haynie, 17, was not at home at the time of the shooting.
The now 19-year-old man pleaded guilty to four counts of murder on Tuesday and a count of attempted aggravated murder.
READ MORE ON US NEWS
Due to the severity of the crime and according to state law, he had been charged as an adult by prosecutors.
In Utah, if those charged with aggravated murder or murder are sixteen years old or older, the charges must be filed in adult court.
Haynie is now facing 25 years in prison and his sentencing is set for December 7, 2022.
Haynie "laid in wait" for hours before "methodically killing" the four members of his family, as they returned home on January 17, 2020, according to Tooele County Attorney Scott Broadhead.
Most read in The US Sun
He told KUTV following the guilty plea: “This young man killed his mother, his three siblings, he tried to kill his father.
"These were brutal crimes, neighbors and friends were shocked. It’s just been tough emotionally for many people."
According to his statement at the time, Haynie's killing spree started with the murder of his mom, Alejandra and sister Maylan.
She had returned home from picking up her daughter at school when CJ allegedly "fired multiple rounds from a handgun into their heads, necks and/or upper bodies."
An hour later, his sister Alexis - who had just returned home from school - would become her brother's third victim.
Alexis was found with "multiple gunshot wounds to her head and upper body."
The fourth victim was Haynie's younger brother Matthew, who was shot dead at 5.17pm, according to a witness interview.
He was found with a single gunshot wound to his head, which had been fired at point black range.
That witness is the same person who would drive him and his father to the hospital an hour later after the latter managed to disarm his son and bring an end to the massacre.
The teen's brother Danny would later publicly post his support for his brother on social media after the brutal murders.
Read More on The US Sun
Read More on The US Sun
Haynie's motive for the murder has never been revealed.
He is currently held at a juvenile detention center on a $4m bond.
3