Man who killed wife, in-laws and family dogs in botched murder-suicide sentenced to three consecutive life terms – after pleading for death penalty by firing squad

A Utah man who killed his wife and in-laws in a botched murder-suicide has been sentenced to life in prison, defying his wish for execution by firing squad.

Jeremy Lake Bailey, 34, shot and killed his wife Anastasia Stevens, 36, on May 19 at their home in Layton, 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Salt Lake City.

He then pointed his gun at her father Donald Stevens, 73, and Donald's wife Becky Stevens, 61, Anastasia's stepmother.

Bailey also shot and killed three of the family's dogs.

Minutes after their murder, he logged into Anastasia's Facebook profile and posted a message detailing what he had done. He called it a “massacre-suicide” and claimed he had “just killed everyone” and killed “three of the dogs.”

He then called 911 to say he had killed them and that it was a murder-suicide.

Bailey killed his wife Anastasia Stevens, 36, on May 19 at their home in Layton, Utah

Bailey also killed his wife's father, Donald Stevens, and his wife's stepmother, Becky Stevens, who were visiting from Nevada.

But when police arrived at Layton's home, Bailey turned himself in.

Bailey told them that he had had an argument with his wife before killing her and her parents, and asked to be executed by firing squad.

The last execution in Utah took place in 2010, when Ronnie Lee Gardner was killed by a firing squad for the 1984 murder of attorney Michael Burdell during Gardner's failed escape attempt from a Salt Lake City courthouse.

Bailey's wish was not granted and on Tuesday a judge in Salt Lake City sentenced him to three consecutive life sentences.

“Your life has been spared,” Judge Michael DiReda said. 'You were given grace that you did not want to give to your wife and her parents. Here you are the beneficiary of that grace.”

Judge Michael DiReda will be seen Tuesday and sentence Bailey to three consecutive life sentences

Jeremy Bailey and his wife Anastasia Stevens. He killed her and told police he planned to carry out a murder-suicide, but then backed out from committing suicide

The couple, who lived in Layton, Utah, had been arguing before he opened fire

Relatives of the three victims have made emotional statements about their loss.

Wes Chisnall, half-brother of Anastasia Stevens and son of Becky Stevens, paid tribute to their kindness.

“I will never forget the childhood I had because of Becky and Anna,” he said, according to NBC News.

Chisnall's wife added: 'His cowardice cost the lives of a mother, a father and a sister. In the blink of an eye he left my husband without his family.

“He stole the innocence of my children's childhood; his actions created a ripple in their lives that will be felt forever.”

Donald Stevens' sister, Tami Seipert, told the court, “We are all hurting over something we had nothing to do with.”

Bailey's attorney, Jonathan Nish, said the sentencing was fair.

“This was a serious matter that could have been much worse than it is now,” he said.